Malnutrition stunting province’s growth: Suri

Deputy speaker says National Nutrition Programme will be launched soon

QUETTA: National Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Suri has said that malnutrition is one of the major causes of high maternal and child morbidity and mortality rate in Balochistan.

He was speaking at a consultative and sensitisation seminar for parliamentarians and stakeholders organised by the Balochistan Nutrition Programme and provincial Health Department on Sunday.

The deputy speaker said that the federal government under the envisioned policy guidelines of Prime Minister Imran Khan had been taking immediate actions to fight malnourishment and stunted growth.



In the coming days, the National Nutrition Programme would be launched, he announced.

He also said that the centre would support the provincial governments in its efforts to eradicate diseases, especially among children and women.

Speaking on the occasion, Balochistan Health Minister Mir Naseebullah Marri announced the establishment of a provincial nutrition directorate, unifying all nutrition emergency services under one umbrella.

In the wake of ongoing drought conditions, the provincial cabinet had endorsed scaling up of the nutrition programme on an urgent basis, he added. He said the provincial government had been busy in providing nutrition-related interventions.

Marri stressed the importance of the federal government and development partners’ support in making such interventions successful.



He lamented the high rate of malnutrition among children below the age of five.

Quoting National Nutrition Survey 2011 figures, he said 40 per cent of children were underweight, 52 per cent stunted, 16 per cent wasted, while 61 per cent had Vitamin A deficiency (maternal), 74 per cent Vitamin A deficiency (child), 49 per cent anemia (maternal) and 57 per cent with anemia (child).

Meanwhile, Nutrition Programme National Manager Dr Baseer Khan Achakzai said that after the 18th Constitutional Amendment the provincial government had been tasked with working on conducive and conclusive policies in the health sector.

He appreciated the government of Balochistan for taking malnutrition as a health problem.

Health Secretary Hafiz Abdul Majid said creation of a supportive environment for the implementation of comprehensive food and nutrition policies was crucial.

The health department will extend its support in establishing a nutrition directorate to stimulate development policies and programmes, he added.

Majid stressed the need for working under the multi-sectoral approach.

Adviser to Chief Minister on Secondary Education Haji Mohammad Khan Lehri, MPAs Bushra Rind, Malik Naseer Shahwani, Zeenat Shahwani, Mir Sikandar Umrani, Mobeen Khilji and former Balochistan Assembly speaker Rahila Hameed Khan Durrani also attended the event.

In the wake of high rate of malnutrition in Balochistan, the provincial government has declared a nutrition emergency. As the devastating burden of malnutrition has lifelong negative consequences, including stunted growth and impaired cognitive development, experts warn that it can permanently disable a child’s potential to become a productive adult.