KP Govt plans to strengthen food fortification programme to counter malnutrition, stunted growth of children.

PESHAWAR -- The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has planned to strengthen food fortification programme to counter malnutrition and stunted growth in children and lactating mothers.

To counter stunted growth in children especially under five years of age in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Government has planned to expand food fortification program (FFP) to backward districts through its food department to enhance level of nutrition of thousands of stunted children and lactating mothers.

Officials in KP Food Department told reporter on Sunday said that under this landmark pro- poor initiative of the PTI Government, the process of fortification of wheat flour and ghee have been started to combat micronutrients deficiencies in children and lactating mothers.

FFP is a five year programme launched in all provinces of Pakistan including KP aimed at supporting national and provincial efforts to combat micro-nutrient deficiencies and stunted growth in children and lactating mothers.

FFP was launched in 2016 with assistance of UK government and would continue till 2021 in the country including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Under the key program, micro-nutrients which are important for growth of children and lactating mothers was being provided to flour and ghee mills to counter the problem of malnutrition and stunted growth in children.

He said food fortification programme was underway in 84 countries including SAARC and have made necessary legislation in this regard.

He said vitamin A and B, folic acid, iron and edible oil were important for growth of children and its inclusion would help counter malnutrition and stunted growth problems in children.

Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that is naturally present in many foods and is important for normal vision, immune system and reproduction. Vitamin A also helps heart, lungs, kidneys, and other organs to work properly.

The official said countering of malnutrition was a big challenge for under devoloped and devoloping countries like Pakistan and a draft bill was being prepared that would soon be tabled in KP Assembly after consultation with all stakeholders to counter this issue.

The official said about 34 percent children were facing problem of low weight and 48pc are stunted growth besides 12 pc children shortage of vatimin A in our country.

He said these problems were high in children in rural areas compare to urban areas and this food fortification...