UN official says malnutrition an ‘emergency we can no longer ignore’
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…
An international conference in Islamabad is addressing Pakistan's severe malnutrition and stunting crisis, with over 40% of children under five affected. The two-day event is drawing policymakers, international development leaders, health professionals, and nutrition experts to discuss practical interventions to improve nutrition outcomes and protect the nation's human capital.
UN official Pernille Ironside emphasized that nutrition should not be activated only after a crisis, but should be integrated into preparedness and shock-responsive systems. She highlighted that malnutrition is a development and economic issue, not just a health problem, and affects children in poorer and remote areas disproportionately.
World Bank specialist Abigail Perry stressed that malnutrition is a fundamental barrier to individual and national health and prosperity. World Health Organisation Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted that nutrition is about access to safe, healthy diets and strong food systems, involving various stakeholders in addressing the problem.
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal underscored the critical importance of the first five years of a child's life in shaping human resource development and stressed that investment in nutrition is not charity, but an economic policy essential for Pakistan's future.
Written by urgent.news from Dawn's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
