ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Minister for National Health Services (NHS) Dr Nadeem Jan, while citing the National Nutrition Survey 2018, said on Monday that 54.7 per cent of the country’s adolescent girls were anaemic, with a higher prevalence in rural areas (56pc) than urban areas (53pc).

He was speaking to participants of the concluding ceremony of the school-based Weekly Iron Folic Acid Supplementation Project aimed at anaemia reduction among adolescent girls. The programme was organised by the federal and Punjab governments with the collaboration of Nutrition International and the pilot project benefited over 5,000 girls in public-sector schools.

Dr Jan warned anaemia and malnutrition can lead to diminished human capital and academic potential. “There’s a need for a comprehensive integrated behaviour change communication strategy, including family planning, nutrition, maternal and child health, EPI, polio and all other things happening at the ground level,” he said.

Dr Jan tasked the health ministry to develop a special task force on nutrition to strategise and guide nutrition programming in the country using a life cycle approach. He informed the participants that two million doses of multiple micronutrients supplements (MMS) have been donated to the ministry for pregnant women and $10 million have been committed by a donor for the local production of MMS in Pakistan.

Health ministry asked to develop task force on nutrition to strategise nutrition programming

He reiterated the commitment of his government towards the health and nutrition of the population, especially the most vulnerable including women, children and adolescents.

Nutrition International Pakistan Country Director Dr Shabina Raza said the girls constituted 48pc of the total adolescent population in Pakistan and half of them were anaemic. “Addressing their nutritional needs is critical not only for their health and wellbeing but for the generations they produce,” she said. The event was attended by over 80 participants, including the representatives of Unicef, WFP, international and national NGOs, civil society and media.

Health cards meeting

Dr Jan, while chairing a meeting on health cards, assured that all funding issues will be resolved as per his discussion with the minister of planning. He thanked caretaker Punjab Health Minister Dr Javed Akram and State Life management for their continued support for the federal health programme. He further reassured the nation that with the support of all stakeholders the program,e will continue for the benefit of all Pakistani citizens. The meeting was participated by the AJK health minister, State Life chairman, and Federal Sehat Sahulat Programme CEO Muhammad Arshad.

Published in Dawn, December 19th, 2023