AKU Symposium on National Nutritional Strategy

Need for Awareness Campaign to Curb Rampant Malnutrition

The four-day symposium titled 'National Nutrition Strategy: Planning for the Future' concluded at Aga Khan University (AKU) on December 22, 2003, with experts presenting maternal and child nutrition and survival packages, and strongly recommending fertility regulation and population planning, universal salt iodization, and exclusive breastfeeding for six months as significant factors for the improvement of mother and child health in Pakistan. The symposium was organised under the auspices of the Ministry of Health (MOH) (Nutrition Section) in collaboration with AKU, UNICEF and MI (Micronutrient Initiative).

Dr. Zulfiqar A. Bhutta, Professor, Department of Paediatrics, AKU speaks at the National Nutrition Strategy symposium. Also seen in the photograph (L to R): Dr. Habibullah, Senior Chief Nutrition, Planning and Development, Ministry of Health, Islamabad; Dr. Fehmida Jalil, Professor (R) Social and Preventive Paediatrics, Lahore; Dr. Rafah S. Aziz, Chief PHEC, UNICEF Pakistan, Islamabad; Dr. Qadir Buksh, Director General Health Sindh, Hyderabad; Dr. Iqbal Memon, Professor Paediatrics, Civil Hospital; Dr. Inayat Thaver, Department of International Development, World Bank, Islamabad; Dr. D. S. Akram, Professor Paediatrics, Civil Hospital, Karachi; Dr. Noor A. Khan, Micronutrient Initiative, Islamabad; Dr. M. Haroon Jehangir Khan, Deputy Director General Health (Nutrition Wing), Ministry of Health, Islamabad; Dr. Inaam-ul-Haq, Senior Health Specialist, World Bank, Islamabad.

Pakistan has an alarmingly high rate of malnutrition that particularly affects women and children leading to morbidity with repeated infections and an increase in mortality. Almost 54% of young children deaths in the developing world are due to malnutrition. Although the special nutritional needs for women during their reproductive age, especially during pregnancy and lactation, are well recognised, it is precisely such women who are malnourished in Pakistan, with strikingly high rates of anemia and wasting.

Problems reviewed at this symposium included malnutrition, iron deficiency anaemia and micronutrient deficiencies in the population. The symposium provided an important opportunity to address key nutritional issues in Pakistan and serve to bring together national and provincial policy makers, health agencies and national and international experts in malnutrition.

The critical need to have a concerted and well-designed intervention programme targeting high-risk groups in women and children was also felt during the group discussions and panel sessions. Facts highlighted included poor dietary practices amongst women and children that have yet to be subjects of national awareness campaigns or public education. It was therefore recommended that a significant mass public awareness campaign is urgently needed.

Audience at the symposium held at AKU titled ‘National Nutrition Strategy: Planning for the Future’.

In his address at the closing ceremony, Federal Secretary of Health Ejaz Rahim, said that MOH is willing to provide the leadership and ownership to improve nutrition in Pakistan. He added that nutrition involves not only the MOH, but also other stakeholders because it requires several other interventions, such as poverty alleviation, women's empowerment, family planning, safe environment and water. "In order to do that, the MOH will create a directorate of nutrition to bring all stakeholders together and to mainstream nutrition within various existing initiatives of the Government of Pakistan," he stated further.

The Federal Secretary elaborated that it was critical to involve civic societies and NGOs which are operational at district levels, for which he was looking for recommendations. He highlighted the role of universties and academia, especially AKU which has had a major development and public health focus. He also appreciated the sequential partnership of AKU and other stakeholders with the Government of Pakistan in addressing maternal and child health, vaccination strategies and now maintstreaming nutrition strategies in Pakistan.

Dr. Zulfiqar A. Bhutta, Professor in the Department of Paediatrics, AKU, summarising the recommendations from the symposium, suggested among others, in general, the need for education and literacy promotion initiatives, ensuring nutrition is central to the development agenda, poverty alleviation strategies, food security at all levels, and district level governance and involvement in decision-making. Other speakers at the concluding ceremony included Dr. Mohammad Khurshid, Dean Medical College, AKU, and Dr. Rafah Aziz, UNICEF Pakistan, and Dr. Haroon J Khan, Deputy Director General (Nutrition) MOH.