Alarming nutrition deficits in children prevail across Pakistan.

KARACHI -- The alarming prevalence of vitamin and mineral deficiencies in children is undermining Pakistan's ability to achieve its development potential, noted experts during a three-day international conference, which concluded at the Aga Khan University (AKU) on Saturday.

They also called upon the government to adopt a more comprehensive approach towards early childhood development to enhance its far-reaching impact on human and social development.

A major highlight of the conference titled 'Nutrition and Early Human Development' was the National Nutrition Survey 2018 whose findings were discussed and analysed in detail during the event.

'Poverty not the sole cause of malnutrition'

The survey shows that the country faces a triple burden of malnutrition with micronutrient deficiencies, undernutrition and obesity co-existing in Pakistan's population.

Over six out of 10 children (62.7 per cent) across the country are vitamin D deficient while more than half of under fives (53.7pc) suffer from anaemia or a lack of vitamin A (51.5pc).

Only one in seven children between 6-23 months of age receive meals with minimum dietary diversity that include four food groups. Furthermore, fewer than one in 20 children (3.6pc) are fed complementary foods that would ensure optimal growth.

These nutrition deficits, according to speakers, are present across all socioeconomic strata and are noticeable in the country's most affluent areas.

'Poverty isn't the sole cause of Pakistan's malnutrition challenge as vitamin and essential mineral deficits also prevail in the wealthiest households,' said Prof Zulfiqar A. Bhutta, founding director of Aga Khan University's Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health.

Pakistan's nutrition challenges, he noted, were not just the responsibility of the ministry of health as malnutrition affected indicators in education, gender equity, as well as the country's ability to address social inequalities.

'That's why we need solutions that cut across sectors such as agriculture, education and clean water and sanitation, which actively involve parents and communities,' he observed.

Prof Bhutta in his presentation also referred to Pakistan's long-running programmes to fortify cooking oil, ghee and wheat with vitamins and noted that the levels of vitamin A and vitamin D deficits and severe iodine deficiency had risen since the last survey in 2011 despite those programmes.

Broader role of LHWs

As part of measures to address the...