The health burden caused by children and mothers has been largely ignored for years. When adolescent or reproductive-age girls are malnourished, they are more prone to high-risk pregnancies and childbirths. There is also the possibility of children being born to malnourished mothers with low birth weights, thereby repeating the malnutrition cycle. Adequate nutrition for girls is very important, as a nutritional disorder during pregnancy leads to lifelong negative consequences for them and their future children.
The latest assessment by the National Nutrition Survey (2018) revealed the worrying nutritional status of girls in late adolescence (ages 15-19). The report highlighted the high prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies – anemia was 54 percent, folic acid deficiency 49 percent, and zinc and vitamin A deficiencies were calculated at 42 percent and 40 percent, respectively. These indicators are alarming, especially given the country’s GDP and how it compares with its neighbor. While Afghanistan has seen a significant decrease in child stunting since 2004, Pakistan continues to see a sharp increase.
Another important indicator of the health and nutritional status of a population is the “mortality rate under five years”. Recent surveys in Pakistan show that this rate is 137 per 1,000 births, which is shockingly high by international standards. According to nationwide food consumption surveys, 40 percent of children in Pakistan are underweight and the majority of them are stunted.
The second way to overcome growth retardation in children is to provide infant formula products during the early stages of growth. When infants cannot get food from their mothers, it is important to provide them with nutrients through external feeding. And given the poor micronutrient status of women in Pakistan, nutritional supplements that can help infants overcome their malnutrition should be considered. This situation makes it imperative for the government to use all possible avenues that can help alleviate the problem of stunted growth in children. But the current move by the incumbent government to raise the prices of infant nutrients limits this second window of ability to provide children with the nutrients they need to grow and thrive and, consequently, to overcome stunted growth.
The current government in its 2018 election manifesto mentioned the problem and impact of food insecurity and malnutrition on the mental and physical health of children. Promises have been made to address the daunting stunt crisis in the country. In his first speech to the nation, the Prime Minister acknowledged the government’s priorities to prevent slowdowns in growth. But the latest move to impose a sales tax of 17 percent on locally produced infant formula and baby food in the “supplementary law” contradicts the prime minister’s promises. Given the high rate of inflation, it is important to ensure that locally produced nutritional products for infants and children are available at lower and more affordable prices compared to high-priced imported products to meet the nutritional needs of children.
Good nutrition is important for almost two years of life. Malnutrition in early childhood leads to increased morbidity and mortality, poor cognitive development and potential illnesses in adulthood, resulting in a resourceless population that is hardly attributable to a country’s economic aspects. In order to develop their full potential, children need many nutrients – more than ever before in their lives. The high-priced production of nutritional products can have far-reaching negative effects on future generations. Government should undertake nutritional interventions at all levels, including the availability of affordable baby food to the community, to prevent future malnutrition among the population.
In a developing country like Pakistan, which is facing a malnutrition situation and where mothers cannot provide their children with the necessary nutrition due to illness and other underlying diseases, alternative nutritious foods should be offered at affordable prices in order to break the cycle of malnutrition. The government should reconsider its decision to make alternative nutritious foods too expensive and unaffordable to the population, and ensure that no one misses the second opportunity to make the future generation healthy and productive.
The author is a health advisor. She can be reached at:
fauziawaqar_28@hotmail.com
