ISLAMABAD:
Ranked at 78th out of 80 less developed countries, Pakistan is the third worst place for a mother, according to a Save the Children report.
The country also held the fourth place for the most deaths of children under five years of age, and a high child stunting rate of 42%.
The shocking statistics were revealed in a report entitled ‘13th State of the World’s Mothers (SOWM)’ launched by Save the Children on Thursday.
The report highlighted important facts pertaining to malnutrition and infant and maternal mortality across the globe.
According to the report, 58% of households in Pakistan are food insecure, 35 % of deaths of children under the age of five are caused due to malnutrition. Further, 33% of deaths of women are caused due to complications in pregnancy.
Malnutrition is one of the root causes of infant and maternal mortality in Pakistan, affecting the future of health and socioeconomic development and productive potential in the country.
However, the report suggests that trends of breastfeeding indicators are moving in the right direction.
Exclusive breastfeeding rates increased from 23% in 1990/91 to 37% in 2006/07. Between 1990 and 2008, maternal mortality in Pakistan dropped by nearly half, according to the report. While addressing participants at the launch, Dr Saba Gul Khattak, Member Planning Commission of Pakistan, said: Pakistan is far behind in achieving Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 4 and 5.
David Wright, the country director of NGO Save the Children International in Pakistan, said, “The 2012 State of the World’s Mothers shows clearly that this crisis of chronic malnutrition has devastating effects on both mothers and their children.”
Published in The Express Tribune, June 1st, 2012.
COMMENTS (12)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
Unfortunately, the study focused on trivial things such as nutrition and did not measure the joy a child must feel knowing that he is protected by sophisticated short-range missiles and nuclear weapons.
Different research produce different results, only home done research could be more accurate. We cannot trust those reports compiled outside the country or even inside country by outsiders!!!
@True Muslim Paki: Here is the actual report. The fact is both India and PAkistan are not doing too well in this area. http://www.savethechildren.org/atf/cf/%7B9def2ebe-10ae-432c-9bd0-df91d2eba74a%7D/STATEOFTHEWORLDSMOTHERSREPORT2012.PDF
Unlike some reports that are based on perception, this report is based on actual metrics.
@Salman
36% NOT 60% of Pakistanis live in urban areas. This number is highest in SOuth Asia (In India 31% people live in urban areas). Anyway, while it is true that things are better in cities compared to villages and this is true for both India and Pakistan, this comparison is across countries and not within a country. So the level of urbanisation in Pakistan is not relevant.
Why should we care about mothers and infants when we have nuclear weapons and armed forces that require the budget of feeding six countries, what wonderful priorities we have. Ofcourse its more important to fund the maintenance of the presidential house costing 35 lakhs a day but have our future generation dying of hunger .
Was watching BBC world news yesterday, and the reporter was following up on the story of a flood displaced family after one year.
The mother of the family died.
The slilent anguish and the tears of the husband and children said more than the narration.
We are proud Muslim nation with nuclear power, ... well enjoy then.
Well frankly speaking, this report is absurd. Situation is urban cities are much better and 60% of Pakistan is now residing in cities. May be they have taken afghan mahajireen and people displacement after earth quake and terrorism into account as well.
I am not surprised.
Arrgh, who cares!! Let's fire another Hatf 9,10,11, with the range of 351, 352 and 353 at the cost of $100 million, $200 million and $300 million.....
Another report highlighting how the government is NOT prioritising poverty reduction or women's empowerment - the only two comprehensive steps which can curb the galloping population increase in Pakistan. Countries like Bangladesh and Sierra Leone are more on target to meet the MDGs than Pakistan. Wonder what the Govt of Pak will have to say about this report? Or will they brush it under the rug as always!
"Nation's honour not to be traded for Prosperity" - General Ashfaq Kayani. The prosperity and well-being of the poor, mothers and their children in particular, clearly rank low in our nation's hierarchy of priorities.