The survey also points out that Pakistan’s high rates of child mortality, with malnutrition and preventable diseases being key contributing factors. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE
The National Nutrition Survey (NNS) said that 29.7 per cent children in the country are underweight, with only a minor difference between the urban and rural population.
The surveys states that there was a difference of 2.5% in the weights of urban and rural children. Severely underweight children in rural areas stand at 12.8% while in the urban areas the percentage falls down to 8.4 per cent.
It was stated out that robust interventions and strategies were needed to counter the problem of malnutrition.
The survey also points out that Pakistan’s high rates of child mortality, with malnutrition and preventable diseases being key contributing factors, could be addressed by implementing a number of approaches in health, nutrition, water and sanitation.
It said that key challenges of child health included lack of integrated management system for childhood illness, lack of availability and access to health facilities, affordability and lack of awareness about health services.
“The most common causes of deaths, haemorrhage and sepsis are closely related to poor hygiene conditions, but they could easily be prevented through improved health services,” says the report.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 6th, 2013.
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