November 18, 2003	Tuesday	Ramazan 22, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Nov 17: About 38 per cent of the children in Pakistan between the age of six months and five years are underweight while 36.8 per cent are stunted.

This was said in a report of the National Nutrition Survey, conducted during 2001 to 2002 to ascertain the recent benchmark of the nutrition status of women and children in Pakistan, launched here on Monday. A similar survey was last carried out 17 years ago.

The ceremony was organized by the Planning Commission in collaboration with Unicef at a local hotel.

Speaking at the launching and dissemination of results of the National Nutrition Survey 2001-2002, the chief economist, Planning Commission, Dr Tahir Pervez Tahir, conceded that government lacked expertise to evaluate nutritional value.

Dr A.R. Kemal, director, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), highlighted the need for establishing a council to conduct similar surveys after every three years so that updated figures could be known and past experience of delayed surveys could be avoided.

According to the survey, 12.5 per cent of women were malnourished while it was 16.1 per cent in the case of lactating mothers. The situation in Sindh is even worse.

About the iodine deficiency, the report said 6.5 per cent school-going children (six to 12 years) had either palpable or visible goitre. The prevalence increased to 21.2 per cent among mothers. In terms of urinary iodine excretion, 22.9 per cent school- going children and 36.5 per cent mothers are severely iodine deficient.

The utilization of iodized salt at the household level is only 17 per cent despite the fact that 56.4 per cent are aware of the salt iodized benefits. The main reasons for not using iodized salt are its high price, non-availability and rumours about contraceptive effect.

About the Vitamin A deficiency, the survey said 9.4 per cent mothers in the country were night blind while 1.2 per cent children had Bitot’s Spot on their cornea. However, majority of the mothers are unaware about the Vitamin A rich foods.

In respect of anaemia, 22.5 per cent mothers had moderate to severe iron deficiency anaemia while 45 per cent had iron deficiency and 29.4 per cent had anaemia. These proportions among children are 35.6, 66.5 and 50.9 per cents, respectively.

Zinc deficiency is considered a public health problem in Pakistan as about 37 per cent children are found to have evidence of zinc deficiency. This deficiency among mothers at the national level is also at 41 per cent.

The survey said only four per cent mothers ate meat daily while 22 per cent took it twice a week and 35 per cent once a week. However, 84 per cent of them ate bread while five per cent reported that they ate vegetables daily.

During the entire day, mothers consumed 322 gms of wheat, 90 gms of milk products, 72 gms of meat and 55 gms of sugar. The amount of the same items eaten by children is 165 gms, 231 gms, 31 gms and 50 gms, respectively.

When this dietary intake was converted into energy, the report said it was 2,099 calories and 58 gms of proteins for mother and 957 calories for children. More than 50 per cent women were consuming less than 2,160 standard calories needed.