Malnutrition discussed

ISLAMABAD: An undernourished population exposed to food insecurity, disease and vagaries of climate change is giving nightmares to planners.

UNICEF Deputy Representative Dr Tajudin Oyewale said on Wednesday that findings of national nutrition situation has not changed much in past decades.

The government has developed a comprehensive action plan to deal with the malnutrition issue in children on an urgent basis at federal and provincial level.

Addressing the concluding session of consultative meeting here Wednesday to review and endorse National Nutrition Action Plan, organised by Scaling up Nutrition Movement (SUN) Secretariat, Ministry of Planning Development and Reform (MPDR) and World Food Program (WFP), Member Food Security and Climate Change Planning Commission Dr Muhammad Azeem Khan said that the government is taking the issue seriously to stop its negative effects on the society.

Nutrition Specialist from World Food Program Dr Yasir Ihtesham said NNAP highlights the important link between nutrition, food security, affordability and other associated sectors to fight malnutrition.

Chief Nutritionist, Scaling Up Nutrition Focal Point Mohammad Aslam Shaheen sharing the key findings of National Nutrition Survey 2018 said that Pakistan is suffering from triple burden of disease.

Senator Dr Mehar Taj Roghani said that the legislation has been passed but unfortunately implementation is lacking.  

Published in The Express Tribune, July 11^th, 2019.