nutrition issues
PESHAWAR
Coordinator of Lady Health Worker Program Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Department Dr Saeed-ur-Rehman has stressed the need for adequate access to proper diet and nutrition, adding that diet and nutrition are fundamental in maintaining the health of populations, especially expectant women.
Dr Saeed-ur-Rehman maintained that concrete steps have been taken to overcome the challenges faced in the province regarding diet and nutrition.
He expressed these views in his address at a function organized by Nutrition International KP in a local hotel in Peshawar.
Expressing his views on the recent research findings regarding iron and folic acid, Dr Saeedur Rahman said that in the light of the research study conducted on nutrition, iron and folic acid are required by pregnant women during prenatal care.
He said that anemia is affecting the health and nutritional status of mothers and adolescent married girls, which ultimately leads to increased maternal and infant mortality, as well as low birth weight babies.
Recent research shows that pregnant women should consume iron and folic acid supplements regularly during pregnancy.
Dr Fazal Majeed Nutrition Wing, Ministry of National Health Services Regulation and Coordination, Director of Nutrition, Department of Health said that anemia is a public health challenge in Southeast Asia, adding that 41.9 percent of women of reproductive age are identified as anemic.
He said that its prevalence is even higher among pregnant women living in Pakistan, 51 percent of whom are anemic and 18.2 percent are iron deficient.
Dr Khawaja Masood, National Health Services Regulation and Coordination of the Nutrition Wing of the Federal Ministry of Health, Islamabad, in his address at the event, said that Nutrition International supports the collection of evidence, capacity building of health service providers and policy implementation.
“Government is committed to addressing health and nutrition issues,” he added.
Dr Shabina Raza, Country Director, Nutrition International highlighted the research findings on iron and folic acid and said that the study shows that the majority of women and their family members have anemia.
