New Report Shows Micronutrients are Best Low-Cost Solutions to Improved Health in Pakistan
February 23, 2010 Faisalabad, Pakistan – The representatives of the Micronutrient Initiative, the World Bank, UNICEF, USAID, WHO and leading development agencies in Pakistan launched a new report, Investing in the Future: A united call to action on vitamin and mineral deficiencies, today at an International Conference on “Recent Advances in Human Nutrition with Special Reference to Vulnerable Groups”, held at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan. The group committed to moving forward on the life-saving and life enhancing recommendations set out in the report and recognized the incredible benefits that an increased investment in micronutrient programming can bring.
The launch was heavily attended by representatives from the Ministry of Health, World Bank, UNICEF, USAID, WHO, the Micronutrient Initiative, NGOs/ INGOs, Academic and Research Institutions and Media.
Due to the critical nature of the vitamin and mineral deficiencies, the launch of the report emphasizes and draws attention to the urgent need for action from all levels of government, health and development agencies and the Pakistani community to demonstrate their commitment to children and women in the country by increasing investment in life-saving vitamins and minerals.
This report is a call to action to governments, NGOs, donors, aid agencies, foundations, industry, community leaders and the agricultural sector for increased investment, renewed commitment and expansion of existing vitamin and minerals supplementation programs.
On behalf of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Baseer Khan Achakzai, Deputy Director General Nutrition said, “Vitamin and mineral deficiencies are having a profound effect on our country´s people, communities and the economy.” In his speech he highlighted that in our current food crisis, it is the most vulnerable who will feel the effects of not having enough nutritious food to eat. We can all take action, at the government, NGO and industry levels to implement cost effective solutions to save lives and help children grow healthy and strong.
Iodine Deficiency Disorders are the most pressing micronutrient deficiencies facing Pakistan today – almost two-thirds of school-going children are iodine deficient, resulting in their Intelligence Quotient (IQ) scores being 13 IQ points lower as compared to children living with iodine deficiency. And these disorders are entirely preventable. Other micronutrient deficiencies in Pakistan include iron-deficiency anemia in more than half of school-age children, leading to reduced learning capacity and poor school performance, and iron-deficiency anemia in almost a third of pregnant woman, putting them at greater risk of mortality during childbirth. Similarly vitamin A and zinc deficiencies are also considered as major nutritional and public health problems that affect millions of under five children and women of child bearing age in the country.
“Today we are calling for commitment, coordination and planning for increased micronutrient programming– held together by strong and durable partnerships,” said Dr. Noor Ahmad Khan, Director, Micronutrient Initiative Pakistan. “With the low cost of micronutrient interventions and the high returns, the benefit: cost ratio of micronutrient programming is unmatched by any other large-scale health or economic intervention.” What is needed now is political will, along with sufficient resources and supplies to make sure that all children, especially those in the world´s poorest communities, have access to these life-saving micronutrients. Investment now will lead to huge return in healthier, happier and much more productive populations in the future.
Key recommendations for Pakistan include:
- Continue to support Universal Salt Iodization intervention ensuring more than 70% adequately iodized salt production and to push and support Government of Pakistan for national level legislation and enforcement.
- Continue to support twice yearly vitamin A supplementation for children between six months and five years with special emphasis to hard to reach children.
- National scale up of zinc supplementation in diarrhea management and ensuring zinc supply
- Scaling up availability of multiple micronutrient supplements, such as Multiple Micronutrient Powders for under two.
- Scaling up iron and folic acid supplements for all women of child bearing age, with a special focus on pregnant women
Representatives from the Ministry of Health, the Micronutrient Initiative, the World Bank, UNICEF, USAID and WHO in their comments expressed the wholehearted commitment and support for the alleviation of vitamin and mineral deficiencies in Pakistan.
About the Micronutrient Initiative
The Ottawa-based Micronutrient Initiative is an international not-for-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that the world´s most vulnerable – especially women and children – in developing countries get the vitamins and minerals they need to survive and thrive. Its mission is to develop, implement and monitor innovative, cost-effective and sustainable solutions for hidden hunger, in partnership with others.
For more information, please contact:
Dr. Noor Ahmed Khan MD
Director, Pakistan
The Micronutrient Initiative
House No. 25, Street 30, F-8/1
Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
Tel: 92 51 281 6163-4 ext. 111
Cell: 92 300 856 1915
E-mail: nkhan@micronutrient.org