Pakistan

Fatal neglect: Spend Rs300, save a child

Mortality figures from malnutrition can be brought down with a 2-month fortification course

Sehrish Wasif May 31, 2015

A child eats fortified food provided by WFP in Tharparkar. PHOTO: FILE

ISLAMABAD: The government could reduce the high mortality rate of children aged between six months and five years by spending Rs300 per year on each child facing malnutrition in Pakistan.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Dr Baseer Achakzai, director of nutrition at the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination (NHSRC), said it is estimated that every year 360,000 to 400,000 children die in Pakistan from different causes. Some 45% of these children die of malnutrition alone. He said a two-month fortification course with multiple micronutrient powders (MMP) costs around Rs100 to Rs300 for the full coverage of one child.

He said according to a recent survey titled “Multiple Micronutrient Nutrient Powder “carried out by Aga Khan University Hospital revealed that MMP has helped to reduce 26% anemia in children which earlier stood at 51%. “Therefore the government can save many innocent lives by distributing sachets of MMP through lady health workers for every child between the ages of six months and five years to combat chronic malnutrition, which is affecting lives of our future generation,” he said.

Dr Achakzai claimed that the authorities in Punjab are looking forward to distributing these sachets through lady health workers from June this year.

Ayub Sheikh, health secretary at the NHSRC Ministry, pointed out that “micronutrient deficiency prevalence is a matter of great concern” in addition to overall malnutrition in children and women in Pakistan.” He was speaking at a seminar on micronutrients. “This significantly small amount can save our children from possible micronutrient deficiencies and improve their physical and cognitive development,” he said. He said a lot has been said and expressed about the status of malnutrition in the country, since the launch of the National Nutrition Survey 2011 less than two years ago.

“Today when I hear news like this I really feel bad. I strongly feel, as someone said, that it is time to stop talking and do some good work for the people of our country especially women and children,” he said.

He called upon UN agencies, donors and development partners to come forward and support the nutrition programme in the country with synergies in efforts to address the poor indicators of Stunting, low birth weight, anemia and IDD disorders.

Dr Tausif Akhter, country director of Micronutrient initiative (MI), said these small sachets contain necessary vitamins and minerals used to fortify the food of six to 24 month old children, He reiterated that this crucial period of 1,000 days provided us with a window of opportunity.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 31^st, 2015.

COMMENTS (1)

john sugden | 9 years ago | Reply Sir I would like the opportunity to respond to the article regarding malnutrition and micronutritional powders. "Fatal neglect Spend RS300". With over 40% of the population(regardless of age)malnourished in Pakistan to avoid future generations continuing this cycle, the answer lies in a solution which addresses the real problem hidden hunger. To enable a lady (in any setting rural or otherwise) to give birth to a healthy infant and for that child and Mother to not only be well,throughout the pregnancy but also during lactation for that Mother to produce nutrient dense breast milk,prior to the onset of pregnancy her body must have the required amount of micronutrients which ensure she is capable of dealing with the demands placed on her,not just for her own well being,and to prevent a stunted child but vitally to reduce the chances of illness through opportunistic viruses which attack a compromised immune system. Acha Mama and products like it were created as an answer to mild acute malnutrition (WFP),they do nothing to address the fundamental problem. For the last 10 months, on behalf of Ashoka Fellow Dr Basil Kransdorff as Uk Ambassador for e'Pap technologies an NGO based in South Africa I have been in contact with many organisations across Pakistan to make them aware of a REAL evidence based solution to many of your countries health problems. The response has been tremendous. With donors supporting over 200,00 meal portions sent to the Cyclone affected regions of Madagascar and Vanatua,this means that over 200 million meal portions of e'Pap have now been delivered across 15 states in Africa and recently Cambodia..What differentiates e'Pap from every other fortification created is in the unique way through using state of the art food technology and the highest quality minerals,vitamins key micronutrients are delivered and absorbed into the body, without the use of chemical isolates.. With International Food Safety accreditation,a pre cooked whole food comprising Maize and Soya with one Tablespoonfull portion being the equivalent of "10 meals" e'Pap is a scaleable sustainable and affordable to those even at the bottom of the social pyramid,simple to deliver with little training required and is culturally acceptable to all.Low in Sugar but with 28 key micronutrients which mean there is no requirement for ANY kind of supplementation. Mixed as a warm(not hot) porridge or with juice milk,or even taken on its own where access to clean water is difficult. e'Pap was originally created to give hope to those who could not fight HIV Aids or the real killers TB and Pneumonia which attack an already compromised immune system. At a time when Anti Retro Viral drugs were not invented not only did e'Pap reduce the number of certain deaths but those sufferers continue to take e'Pap many years after as part of their daily diet which is a test of its sustainability.Clinical trial photographic testimonial evidence in respect of the impact e'Pap has had is readily available. Simply by feeding all hospital patients e'Pap will reduce the burden on Health officials across the Country. Man made and Natural disasters,be it drought or flood will continue to impact on Pakistan and the surrounding region,and one solution to reduce the burden of Nutrition Security will be to manufacture e'Pap under licence using indigenous crops to enable access across the Country. This unlike the idea of mass flour fortification(which will have litle if any effect) will impact within 2 -3 months showing tangible results.. There are many people across the breadth of Pakistan whether in refugee camps,displaced transient or in the towns and cities suffering from chronic illnesses and diseases like Malaria Leprosy Dengue Cancer TB and Diabetes and the daily use of e'Pap can help them to better manage their condition.e'Pap through Dr Kransdorff is changing the world as we know it. The rewards and benefits to the nation are incalculable for example Factories in Southern Africa where ALL WORKERS receive a daily meal of e'Pap at their work place,have seen productivity rise simply because those workers taking e'Pap at their workplace have more energy and are less likey to suffer absenteeism through sicknesss already outlined. I would urge Dr Achakzai and Mr Ayub Sheikh both mentioned in your article,who hold key positions to please engage with Dr Kransdorff and allow e'Pap to be trialled as soonas possible as the first step in enabling the delivery of a healthier Pakistan. Partial solutions simply do not work and sick people do not make for strong communities. kind regards John Sugden uk@epap.co.za

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