Journalists sensitised about challenges of malnutrition.

ISLAMABAD -- Pakistani women of reproductive age (WRA) (15-49 years) bear the triple burden of malnutrition, anaemia and complications of early marriages.

This was highlighted during a session aimed to sensitise journalists about the challenges of malnutrition in Pakistan. The event was organised by Nutrition International on Tuesday.

They were told that almost 42pc women suffer from anaemia. However, over half (54pc) of the country's adolescent girls (10-19 years bracket) were anaemic. High rates of malnutrition among WRA as well as adolescent girls, coupled with underlying complications of early marriages, closely spaced pregnancies, and maternal malnutrition lead to a vicious cycle of high morbidity and mortality with adverse maternal and child health outcomes.

Nutrition International, in collaboration with federal and provincial govts, during the past five years reached out to 155,000 pregnant women and provided Iron Folic Acid Supplementation (IFAs) and 800,000 people were counselled with maternal and child nutrition and health, and infant and childcare.

Speaking to participants, senior advocacy advisor at Nutrition International and chair of the Global SUN Civil Society Network Dr Irshad Danish said that nutrition played a crucial role in economic and human development.

He emphasised that every woman and girl had the inherent right to good nutrition, which was essential for achieving gender equality and development. To address the malnutrition crisis, he called for urgent action to generate and analyse data for planning, scale up nutrition services in flood-affected areas...