Report: FATA children still largely malnourished

According National Nutrition Survey 2011, 15.1% children suffer from acute malnutrition compared to 14.1% in 2001.

ISLAMABAD:

Around 33.2 % children under the age of six in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) are underweight, while 16.3 % are classified as severely underweight.

A report launched by the Children Complaint Office (CCO) titled “The State of Children in Pakistan” also states that nutritional indicators in Fata vary significantly by gender with 36.8% of males being underweight as compared to 29.5% females.

Amongst the category of moderately underweight, South Waziristan scored the lowest with 42.9%, followed by Tank at 41.9%. The lowest rate was found in Bajaur Agency with 26.8%. According to the findings of the National Nutrition Survey 2011 conducted by the health department, 15.1% children suffer from acute malnutrition compared to 14.1% in 2001.

Malnutrition has further made children more vulnerable to diarrhoea, dysentery, anaemia, pneumonia, and respiratory tract infections.

Due to the absence of roads, quality healthcare is not always available in the area. The report also stated that there are 41 hospitals, 190 dispensaries, five rural health clinics, six TB clinics, 499 community health centres, five leprosy centres and three sub-health centres across all agencies in Fata.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 23^rd, 2012.