Over 41% of Pakistani women suffer from anaemia, survey reveals

Over 41% of Pakistani women suffer from anaemia, survey reveals
A National Nutrition Survey has revealed that over 41% of Pakistani women suffer from anaemia, and another 22.4% are deficient in Vitamin A, highlighting the malnutrition and undernutrition crisis affecting the country’s female population.

The survey also found that 4.4% of women are underweight, 24% are overweight, and 13.8% are obese.

Health authorities, government officials, and international organisations on Tuesday urged the government to fulfil its commitments to maternal nutrition, align national guidelines with global standards.

They also called on the concerned departmets to prioritise the development of a comprehensive maternal nutrition package in a landmark move to address the country’s maternal malnutrition crisis.

Signed after the National Policy Dialogue on the Economic Case for Maternal Nutrition, this demand was articulated in the Bhurban Declaration.

Notably, the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination organised the event in collaboration with Nutrition International (NI) at a local hotel.

The malnutrition statistics from the National Nutrition Survey (NNS) 2018 were pointed out by the experts during the event. Moreover, factors like early marriage, childbearing, educational attainment, and women's participation in decision-making processes were also stressed and highlighted by the organisers.

Additionally, the declaration highlighted the urgent need for the government to reverse these alarming trends by ensuring that every woman receives the necessary nutrition, healthcare, and support vital to her well-being and the health of future generations.

These statistics emphasise the need for comprehensive action to address the persistent cycle of malnutrition, which not only affects the health of mothers and children but also imposes a significant economic burden on the country through losses in human capital and productivity.

The Bhurban Declaration, which was endorsed by key stakeholders including the Ministry of National Health Services Regulations and Coordination, provincial health departments, UNICEF, and WHO and Nutrition International (NI), outlines a strategic roadmap to confront these challenges directly.


via Original Source

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Shahid Afridi welcomes Virat Kohli's interest in visiting Pakistan

Image
Pakistan's veteran all-rounder and former skipper Shahid Afridi has finally reacted to Indian star batter Virat Kohli's remarks on playing in Pakistan. "I expected such a statement from Virat. I welcome Kohli, whether he comes to the Pakistan Super League (PSL) or with the Indian team," Afridi said while speaking during a tape ball event in Karachi on Saturday. Afridi's comments refer to Kohli's remarks, while speaking to Pakistani mountaineer Shehroze Kashif, wherein he said that he hopes to visit Pakistan "soon". "Give my regards to your family and all your friends. Hopefully, we [will] visit Pakistan soon [as] everyone has started visiting now," Kohli can be heard saying in the video. The video which dates back to 2022, has since then been deleted by Kashif, owing to the controversy that arose and in light of his personal contacts in the neighbouring country. "I had to delete the video because of my personal contacts in India
Read more

Shaheen Afridi achieves another milestone

Image
Pakistan's left-arm pacer, Shaheen Shah Afridi, achieved a milestone of claiming 300 wickets in international cricket during the second T20I against Ireland on Sunday. This remarkable achievement comes in just 145 international matches, highlighting Afridi's immense talent and impact across multiple formats of the game. Afridi played a pivotal role by securing three crucial wickets on Sunday against Ireland. The 24-year-old has been a force to reckon with in the cricketing world, showcasing his bowling prowess in One Day Internationals (ODIs) with 104 dismissals, Test cricket with an impressive tally of 113 wickets, and T20 Internationals with an outstanding record of 84 wickets. Afridi's achievement also places him among the youngest bowlers to reach 300 international wickets, joining the ranks of cricketing legends like Waqar Younis and Saqlain Mushtaq. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi congratulated Shaheen Afridi on his achievement and presented him with a shirt with 
Read more

Eat to beat high cholesterol

Image
Surprised to hear about 52-year-old Australian cricketing icon Shane Warne, a seemingly fit and healthy ex-professional athlete, suffering a fatal heart attack? Then you might be wondering about the state of your own heart health. And men are no longer the primary candidates for heart attack and related high cholesterol. Women are now also just as much at risk of developing these stress-related killers. Environmental factors and changing lifestyles mean the example your parents set may no longer apply. Fast-moving research also means conflicting health advice. Are eggs on or off the menu? Is cheese and full-fat milk recommended or not? With more people than ever living with high cholesterol, HFG sets the facts straight. Foods for a healthy heart Dietary cholesterol has minimal impact on blood cholesterol levels, so you don’t have to pay too much attention to the cholesterol in the foods you eat. It’s far more important to cut back on saturated fats, since this has a far more pote
Read more