A recent survey shows that the nutritional status in Balochistan needs urgent attention. – File Photo

QUETTA: A comprehensive survey of the country’s nutritional status reveals a grim picture, particularly for Balochistan where the prevalence of chronic malnutrition is 52.2 per cent and maternal anemia is 47.3 per cent.

Similarly, the prevalence of acute malnutrition among children is 16.1 per cent, particularly alarming considering the World Health Organisation guidelines which term anything above 15 per cent as a ‘state of emergency.’

To tackle the situation, the Health Department of Balochistan convened a one day dissemination ceremony of the survey’s findings. The ceremony took place on Tuesday at the Sikandar Jamali Auditorium and was chaired by Chief Secretary of the province.

The secretaries of Food, Education, Agriculture, Population Welfare department and other stack holders also participated in the meeting.

Balochistan’s government will endorse the findings of the survey and will devise an integrated nutrition strategy with the help of all concerned departmemts, NGOs and stake holders to address the crisis immediately.