Act for Nutrition conference: Expert decries lack of dedicated funding for nutrition

The second day of the international conference 'Act For Nutrition: The Emergency We Can No Longer Ignore' took place at Islamabad's Serena Hotel. This conference aims to tackle Pakistan's ongoing nutrition and stunting crisis. Experts warned that over 40% of children under five were stunted, and malnutrition cost Pakistan nearly $17 billion annually.

They attributed malnutrition to poor diets, insufficient healthcare, inadequate water and sanitation services, poverty, and other factors, highlighting the need for a multidisciplinary response.

Thirteen years ago, Tehmina Gulzar, deputy director of nutrition at the Benazir Income Support Programme, shared her insights. She emphasized that social protection programs could significantly improve nutrition outcomes. Gulzar also noted that BISP possessed extensive data that could aid various sectors in addressing malnutrition.

Khadija Khan, CEO of the Pakistan Alliance on Early Childhood Development, cautioned against treating nutrition independently. According to Khan, holistic development requires a comprehensive approach encompassing good health, adequate nutrition, responsive caregiving, safety, security, and early learning opportunities. She stressed that without these essential elements, holistic child development remained unattainable.

Shahid Lone, chairman of the Allah Walay Foundation, called for stronger commitment from policymakers and implementers. He expressed skepticism regarding the implementation of policies, pointing out discrepancies between public declarations and secret actions. Lone questioned how those lacking vision or belief in their work could effectively execute policies.

Dr Farhana Memon, programme director at Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health, criticised the behavior of healthcare providers. Memon lamented that healthcare workers seldom counseled patients on family planning, nutrition, or vaccinations. She urged healthcare professionals to seize every opportunity to educate families about nutrition.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, in a video message, announced the establishment of facilitation centers to address malnutrition among pregnant women and young children. Afridi highlighted that the provincial government, guided by Imran Khan's vision, was actively working on this issue. He thanked DawnMedia for their focus on malnutrition and other social issues.