Act for Nutrition conference: Expert says malnutrition underfunded despite ‘catastrophic consequences’
A two-day international conference, ‘Act For Nutrition: The Emergency We Can No Longer Ignore’, is being held at Islamabad’s Serena Hotel on Pakistan’s persistent nutrition and stunting crisis. With more than 40 per cent of children under five stunted, a maternal mortality rate of 155 deaths per 100,000 live births, and malnutrition costing Pakistan upwards of $17 billion annually, the country…
On day two of the 'Act For Nutrition: The Emergency We Can No Longer Ignore' conference, experts and policymakers gathered to address Pakistan's malnutrition crisis. With 40% of children under five stunted, a maternal mortality rate of 155 deaths per 100,000 live births, and malnutrition costing the country approximately $17 billion annually, the nation faces a critical juncture.
The conference aimed to shift the national conversation from statistics to practical, measurable interventions that can improve nutrition outcomes and safeguard Pakistan's human capital and future generations.
Malnutrition's economic impact was a key focus of discussion. Dr Ammar Malik, Senior Programme Officer of Development Policy and Finance at the Gates Foundation, emphasized that for every dollar invested in nutrition, the government could gain up to $23 in economic benefits. However, he pointed out that the long-term nature of these investments and their positioning as a standalone topic, rather than integrated into GDP statistics, hindered their recognition.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) took a proactive stance, viewing malnutrition as an economic issue and aligning efforts with social protection, education, agriculture, and WASH services. Dr Mansoor Ali Masood, a Senior Project Officer at ADB, highlighted the bank's support for the Benazir Nashonuma Programme and its allocation of a significant portion of a $960 million fund to address stunting.
Policymakers and experts also underscored the need for multi-sectoral nutrition programs. Dr Nazeer Ahmed, Chief of Nutrition at the Planning Ministry, lamented the lack of such initiatives in recent decades, emphasizing the absence of comprehensive, nationwide strategies. Dr Shujaat Farooq, Dean of Research at the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, stressed that malnutrition is an integral part of human capital and its economic cost is "too much".
He cited alarming statistics, including 40% stunting among children, 25 million children out of school, and 75% of schoolchildren unable to learn proficiently due to malnutrition.
Written by urgent.news from Dawn's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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