120,000 people die of malnutrition in Pakistan annually

MKRMS seminar

LAHORE: Medical and social experts have pointed out that nutritional deficiency is a global problem affecting about two billion people with 120,000 people dying of nutritional deficiency annually in Pakistan alone.

“The 40 to 43 percent ratio of stunted children due to nutritional deficiency in Pakistan is highest in the world,” they revealed, while speaking at a seminar on “Nutritional deficiency – An important national problem” organised by Mir Khalil-ur-Rahman Memorial Society (Jang Group of Newspapers) in collaboration with Policy and Strategic Unit, Health Department, Punjab, here at a local hotel on Monday.

Punjab Minister for Environment Begum Zakia Shah Nawaz emphasised the need to provide education to people without any discrimination on the basis of poverty and gender, which would help to resolve the issues like nutrition and population. She stressed the need to hold awareness seminars and sessions in rural areas to create awareness among the masses regarding education, population and nutrition. “Healthy nation guarantees prosperous and strong Pakistan,” she said, adding that proper nutrition would resolve the issues of stunted growth among children in Pakistan.

Adviser to Chief Minister, on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique said the Punjab government with the cooperation of World Bank started a project of Rs4 billion for education and awareness, which would lead to a bright future of the country. He urged the public to play their role in improving health, education and nutritional status of the country as government couldn’t resolve these problems on its own. He urged the masses to keep their families small not only to help government but help themselves.

Secretary Primary and Secondary Health, Punjab, Ali Jan Khan said that nutritional deficiency was not just limited to rural areas but this problem had also penetrated into the population in urban areas of the country. He said there was a 40 to 43 percent ratio of stunted children due to nutritional deficiency in Pakistan, which was highest in the world. He also emphasised the importance of provision of clean drinking water to the masses.

Dr Tahir Manzoor, Health Specialist UNICEF, said that nutritional deficiency was the major cause of stunted growth among children i.e. smaller height than the normal height of the individual. “This trend is dangerous as it will affect the development and increase the expenditures of the households and the country at large,” he added. He informed that up to 66 percent people in Pakistan are unable to bear the expenses of proper nutrition. However, he advised the people to observe proper time duration between their children to ensure proper health of the mother and children.

University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Talat Naseer Pasha urged the people to start changing themselves and their households if they wish to bring change at the national level, which would resolve most of our problems. He said the people were forced to consume adulterated milk as it contained chemicals. He said that unhygienic and adulterated food caused health hazards; therefore, the people must ensure intake of balanced diet to stay healthy, fit and keep the diseases away.

Fatima Jinnah Medical University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Fakhar Imam said the Pakistani nation was the victim of physical and mental poverty, which was hampering the growth and development of the nation and the country. “If we are able to control the mental poverty, then most of our problems will be solved,” he said, adding that the discrimination between legitimate and illegitimate means had also been fading away.

Prof Dr Tayyaba Waseem, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, SIMS, said that population growth at a rapid level was multiplying the problems like poverty, health, education and nutrition; therefore, there was a need to sensitise people regarding adverse effects of over population. “The gynaecologists are playing their role in sensitising the pregnant women regarding birth control methods to keep their families within their means,” she said, adding that only 18 percent mothers breastfeed their children in Pakistan and awareness about the benefits of breastfeeding can help to prevent many diseases among children in country.

Dr Nosheen Hamid, MPA, said the legislation was there to ensure proper nutrition but its implementation was a cause of concern. She also urged the need to stop underage marriages.Dr Usman Jawad, Head of Family Medicine, UHS, said that obesity had become a major issue as Pakistan was ranked 9th on obesity index in the world. “The obesity is the cause of depression, diabetes and heart diseases,” he added.

Dr Tauseef Janjua, Technical Director Food Fortification Programme, said that the stunted children’s IQ level remained low as their mental growth was also affected by nutritional deficiency. “Almost 53 percent children in Pakistan are suffering from Vitamin-A deficiency,” he added.

Besides, IRMNCH Project Director Dr Akhtar Rasheed, Assistant Programme Director PSPU Dr Nadeem Zaka, MNCH Dr Sabiha Khursheed, Nutrition Coordinator PSPU Dr Saira Khan, Associate Professor of Nutrition Dr Samra Imran, PSPU Dr Khalid Mahmood, senior TV artiste Shuja’at Hashmi, GEO TV programme host Sohail Warraich and PSPU Director Programmes Muhammad Khan Ranjha also spoke on the occasion. MKRMS Chairman Wasif Nagi conducted the seminar.