PESHAWAR
\nExperts at advocacy dialogue here Friday said that stunting in children was a serious health issue and urged parliamentarians of Khyber Pakthunkhwa to create awareness about importance of an advanced nutrition vital for mother-child health.
\nThese views were expressed by different speakers during nutrition advocacy dialogue on \u201cempowering maternal nutrition: prioritizing breastfeeding promotion and enforcing the international code of marketing of breast-milk substitutes\u201d organized by Save the Children with assistance of UNICEF and KP Assembly here at local hotel on Friday.
\nSpeaker KP Assembly Babar Salim Swati, MPAs Nelofar Zeb, Shehla Banu, Taj Muhammad, Mian Sharafat Ali, Rangaz Khan, Ahmed Kundi, Muhammad Arif, Anwar Khan and others.
\nThe speakers said that stunted in 40 percent children in Pakistan has widely been termed as a growing threat to future of young generation and called for massive investment and robust awareness campaign about advanced nutrition for a better mother-child health.
\nDriven by poverty, socioeconomic disparities, and chronic malnutrition, the issue now affects nearly 40% of children under the age of five, according to recent health surveys.
\nMore pervasive than polio or hepatitis, stunting is not merely a health concern\u2014it is a silent emergency with profound implications for national development.
\nIt occurs when children are deprived of essential nutrition, clean water, and healthcare in their formative years.
\nBeyond physical limitations, stunting also hinders brain development, leading to poor academic performance, reduced economic productivity, and greater vulnerability to disease.
\nProvincial Ministers, health professionals, media representatives, and NGO officials attended and the experts underscored the urgent need to combat this public health challenge.
\nAzam Kiani, National Project Manager at Save the Children, highlighted alarming statistics from the National Nutrition Survey 2018 and said in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), 40% of children under five are stunted, 15% wasted, 23.1% underweight, and 12.9% overweight. Over 56% are anemic, and only 60.8% are exclusively breastfed\u2014a comparatively positive figure.
\n\u201cThe nutritional status of women and adolescents is equally concerning,\u201d he added. \u201cNearly 38.2% of women are anemic, 47.7% lack Vitamin A, and a staggering 76.4% are deficient in Vitamin D. Among adolescent girls, 56.2% suffer from anemia, 15.3% are overweight, and 8.5% are obese.\u201d
\nKiani emphasized the need for age- and gender-specific interventions, stressing that such efforts must be prioritized at both national and provincial levels.
\nHe also noted ongoing engagements with religious leaders and plans for similar sessions with lawmakers to build broader support.
\nShiza Hameed, National Project Coordinator at Save the Children, highlighted the critical importance of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months.
\nShe warned against the aggressive marketing of formula milk and called for strict enforcement of laws promoting breastfeeding. \u201cMalnutrition costs Pakistan an estimated $7.6 billion annually\u2014around 3% of its GDP,\u201d she pointed out, adding that the global breast milk substitute industry is valued at $55 billion.
\nDr. Fazal Majeed, Director of Nutrition at the Directorate General Health Services, linked malnutrition to poverty, unemployment, and climate change.
\nHe noted that KP had enacted the Protection of Breastfeeding Act in 2015 and established breastfeeding corners in 22 major hospitals and at Bacha Khan International Airport under the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative.
\n\u201cStunted children today mean a stunted economy tomorrow,\u201d he warned. \u201cWe\u2019re not just talking about short stature\u2014we\u2019re talking about lost human potential.\u201d
\nHe said the crisis is most acute in rural and underdeveloped districts, where stunting rates exceed 50%. Initiatives such as the Nausnoma (Growth) Centres under the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) are offering financial support to encourage balanced nutrition among the underprivileged. However, despite efforts like the Ehsaas Nutrition Program and expanded awareness campaigns, progress remains slow.
\nExperts believe only a multi-sectoral strategy\u2014encompassing food security, maternal health, sanitation, education, and poverty reduction\u2014can effectively address the issue. International agencies, including UNICEF and the World Bank, have cautioned that without urgent action, Pakistan will continue to suffer massive economic losses and deepening social inequality.
\n\u201cThis is not just about feeding children but the country\u2019s future safety,\u201d said Dr Majeed.
\nHe said it is a right time about massive investing in Pakistan\u2019s future. No nation can progress when nearly half its children are deprived of the chance to reach their full potential.\u201d
\nParticipants at the seminar urged lawmakers and media professionals to play a proactive role in raising public awareness through news features, educational programming, and advocacy.
\nAs Pakistan aspires to regional economic leadership, addressing child stunting must become a national priority. The strength of the country\u2019s economy will ultimately depend on the health and potential of its youngest citizens.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
PESHAWAR Experts at advocacy dialogue here Friday said that stunting in children was a serious health issue and urged parliamentarians of Khyber Pakthunkhwa to create awareness about importance of an advanced nutrition vital for mother-child health. These views were expressed by different speakers during nutrition advocacy dialogue on \u201cempowering maternal nutrition: prioritizing breastfeeding promotion and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-480368","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n