New plan to tackle lack of nutrition launched as Australia announces extension of support for Pakistan by another year. PHOTO: FILE
This was stated by Minister for National Health Saira Afzal Tarar at an event to formally launch the Food Fortification Strategy in Islamabad. During the event, Australia announced to grant additional support worth a million dollars to Pakistan and the United Nation’s World Food Programme (WFP) to work on nutrition.
The strategy aims to layout key actions for overcoming the micronutrient deficiencies in Pakistan known as ‘hidden hunger’. The strategy aims to add vitamins and minerals to common foods as an effective, affordable and safe measure to lower the burden of micronutrient deficiencies.
The National Nutrition Survey 2011 had revealed high rates of micronutrient deficiencies amongst children and women of the country. The survey showed that 62 per cent of children in the country are anaemic, while 54 per cent have vitamin A and 40 per cent have Vitamin D deficiencies.
Similarly, 51 per cent of mothers is anaemic, while 42 per cent suffers from Vitamin A and 68 per cent suffers from Vitamin D deficiencies.
The problem imposes an annual economic burden of around $3.5 billion or around two per cent of Pakistan’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Tarar said that the government was aware of the situation and clearly recognises that, without improving the nutritional outcomes, not only were rights of people to healthy and productive lives were being limited, but were also compromising on the country’s march towards economic progress.
She added that the government was encouraging initiatives for Food Fortification of major staple foods to effectively address the issue of micronutrient malnutrition through concerted efforts of all the provinces, partners and stake holders.
In this regard, the health minister said that the National Fortification Alliance had been reconstituted under the ministry in 2015. Moreover, Provincial Fortification Alliances have been constituted in all provinces.
Further, the minister said they were revising food fortification standards including those for wheat flour, according to the needs of the population as per international guidelines and regional recommendations.
A crucial development, she said, was the exemption of fortificant premix from all import duties and taxes as announced in the fiscal budget for 2016-17.
“With the highest level of government ownership and commitment, nutrition has been at the centre stage in our policies and strategies which are being translated into programmes and projects,” she said, adding that the federal government was supporting provinces in developing their individual nutrition and fortification programmes.
However, she said that fortification programmes require the collaboration of the public and private sector. Hence a national strategy for food fortification interventions was developed.
“I look forward to the translation of this fortification strategy into work plans and its implementation on the ground,” she said.
Australian support
Meanwhile, Australia announced to back the programme, extending its support by another year worth a million dollars.
“The Australian government has supported the National and Provincial Fortification Alliances of Balochistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindh since June 2015. Today I am proud to announce that we are extending our support for another year,” said Jurek Juszczyk, the acting high commissioner of Australia.
“The government of Australia has been a proactive partner in working with us and the government in addressing food security and nutrition in Pakistan. We are very confident that this wide-ranging food fortification strategy will have a positive and long-term impact on the economic development of Pakistan,” said WFP Pakistan Country Director Finbarr Curran.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 14th, 2017.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ