IT is impossible to build a progressive, modern state if millions of children in this country remain undernourished. Regrettably, as a recently released report indicates, the situation where child nutrition in Pakistan is concerned is critical, and unless the state responds with alacrity, another health crisis may be in the making. As per the Global Nutrition Report 2015, only a minority of children in Pakistan are growing healthily, whereas half of the children under five are stunted or wasted. These figures are corroborated by similar findings, including those of the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation, which say that the nutritional state of children in this country is “exceptionally poor”. Expectedly, the problem is particularly acute in rural and less-developed areas, especially Sindh and Balochistan. The report also discusses the link between climate change and malnutrition; it says that even small seasonal fluctuations can have “big impacts” on food availability.

Experts have noted the need for “critical nutrition actions” to confront this crisis, which is by no means limited to Pakistan, as many other developing states are experiencing similar difficulties. Such findings on child nutrition have been discussed before. However, this sad state of affairs has failed to rattle the state or society out of complacency. Only when a large number of children die — as was the case in Thar last year — do we sit up and take notice, only to forget about the crisis as the next disaster begins to dominate the relentless news cycle. Clearly, Pakistan faces a child nutrition crisis and unless the state intervenes in an integrated, sustained manner, targeting the most at-risk children, this disaster will continue to unfold. There are many difficult obstacles standing in the way of a brighter tomorrow for Pakistan’s children. However, malnutrition is not an insurmountable problem and can be overcome should the state possess the will to confront it. The provincial and central administrations need to realise that this is a crisis of national importance and they must respond to it accordingly.

Published in Dawn, September 21st, 2015

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