Voice Of Children

Karachi (Dawn/ANN) – Public health experts have called for comprehensive plans and better coordination among various departments to improve the state of nutrition among children and women in Sindh, after a national nutritional survey report launched on Tuesday showed that food insecurity was the highest in the province.
Fight against hunger could be won through long-term plans and interventions targeting women and children with the involvement of the health, education, family planning and women welfare, legal and other social development departments, along with a constant societal advocacy for an increased domestic food production and promotion of the right to food as a human right, said the experts, including representatives of foreign donor agencies.
They were speaking at a workshop organized by the Sindh health department’s nutrition cell in collaboration with Unicef, Karachi, to launch the National Nutritional Survey (NNS) 2011 report and prepare an integrated nutrition strategy.
Besides Sindh Health Minister Dr Sagheer Ahmad, Secretary Syed Hashim Raza Zaidi and Special Secretary Dr. Suresh Kumar, representatives of the World Health Organization, the World Food Programme, and the United Nations Children’s Fund also spoke to the executive district officers for health who participated in the workshop.
Dr. Sajid Soofi of the Aga Khan University, which was awarded the task of the national survey in question, told the participants that about 6,500 households in urban and rural areas across the province were included in the survey.
He said the survey showed that about 49.4 percent of the sample households in Sindh used gas as cooking fuel, followed by 48.1pc who used firewood and 2.5pc kerosene oil. At the national level, 58pc households used firewood to cook food, he added.
Regarding distribution of households by source of drinking water, it was found that 50.8 percent households used tube-wells, followed by 32pc who had piped water, and 17pc who used other sources such as community taps, wells and bottled water.
Discussing formal education, he said the survey highlighted that 64pc mothers were illiterate, while 10.1pc of the sample did complete their school education. About 34.9pc of the urban mothers were illiterate in comparison to 85.4pc mothers in the rural areas, according to the survey.
Severe to moderate rate of iron-deficiency anemia in mothers was found between 0.6pc and 20.3pc, while only 16.8pc mothers had the desirable level of Vitamin D in Sindh.
Malnutrition in children
The survey showed that 17.9pc children in the urban areas and 32.8pc children (both under five) in the rural areas of Sindh were faced with severe stunting.
Anaemia level was assessed as severe in 4.9pc and moderate in 67.6pc children. Child retinol was severe in 18.8pc and mild in 34.5pc sample children.
Forty-two percent children were found suffering from Vitamin D deficiency, while 38.6pc were found to be zinc deficient.
The participants were told that the survey was the largest survey of its nature to date in the country and the first to target provincial level specificity.
It confirmed that maternal and child under-nutrition remained a major issue for the province where only 28pc of the households were food secure.
The report concluded that anemia and zinc deficiency among women and children were major public health concerns in Pakistan.
Food insecurity and poverty were major drivers of under-nutritional childhood, especially stunting, but maternal education appeared to be an important factor in its own right. According to the report, the rate of initiation of breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding have increased, but indicators of complementary feeding suggested major deficiency in frequency, food choices and quality of feeding and parallel maximum deficits in growth in infancy.
He said that the survey found that indicators for water, sanitation and hygiene remained poor and burden of diarrhea and respiratory infections remained high. These might be additional contributory factors and must be addressed concomitantly, he added.
‘Survey to help focus on needs’
Sindh Health Minister Dr Ahmad, who was the chief guest, said that the national nutrition survey had certainly provided a window to the needs of the province in respect of the food security of the population, especially women and children.
“I understand that the participants in the workshop, largely government officers and NGO representatives, have now become aware of the root-cause of malnutrition and they will definitely put their efforts towards preparation and implementation of a well-integrated nutrition strategy in the province,” he said. He said the government realized the seriousness of food insecurity and other lapses that our children had to undergo and finally fall prey to diseases of complicated nature.
The minister said that the Sindh health department had a record of coming up to the expectation of the population of Sindh, which was affected due to floods and heavy rains in 2010 and 2011, and again would be able to improve all indicators of the national survey 2011 with the support of Unicef, the WHO and the WFP and other donors.
The chief secretary and the chief minister were already on board, he said, adding that other departments would also join in the struggle to improve food and health status of the people, including women and children, of the province.
Unicef representative in Sindh Andro Shilakadze said that malnutrition was not only a health subject but was also related to other sectors.
He said it needed enhanced efforts by all relevant sectors and authorities to address the issues related to children and women. A good nutrition status acknowledged as to how a country worked and excelled socially and economically, he said.
A high prevalence rate of malnutrition among women and children jeopardized not only the health and future of the children but also national security.
He said that the issue of anemia in children should be addressed without any delay.
Dr Salma Kausar, the head of the Sindh health department nutrition cell, said that a set of recommendations had also been finalized during the workshop.
She said various groups had suggested a coordinated structure and institutional set-up, comprising provincial, district nutrition steering committees and technical advisory or task force for responsibilities like advocacy, policy, planning, resources and implementation.
Priority action areas as recommended by the officers include direct nutrition interventions, health services, agriculture and food security, water and sanitation, education sector, social sector and food industry.
They have also stressed the need for revival of school health programs with a revised plan of action and resources, and facility of micro-credit schemes for women and conditional and unconditional cash grants and training to vulnerable groups.
BM

Roots School System, DHA-I Campus, Islamabad, held the inauguration ceremony of the newly renovated classrooms with modern furniture and fixtures at the Government School, Kothan Kalan, Morgah, Rawalpindi, as part of ongoing activities of Liberating the Girl Child Foundation popularly known as LGCF, says a press release issued here on Tuesday.

The chief guest on the occasion was Dr. Nafisa Shah, secretary of the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus, and chairperson of the National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) in Pakistan along with other guests of honour and social dignitaries of Islamabad and Rawalpindi were invited to witness this important event. The event was arranged by the Interact Club of Roots School System, DHA-I Campus, Islamabad, under the leadership of Neha Omair, president of LGCF and the Interact Club.

LGCF aims to give every child the best start in life and to open the doors of literacy and education for all the children of Pakistan, especially children from the rural areas of Pakistan. This idea of serving the girl child was conceived and developed by Neha Omair, then, a seventh grade student. This programme when presented at the Harvard University People-to-People Programme in 2010 received tremendous appreciation. LGCF has now evolved into a Rotary International organisation with more than 500 registered members.

Ms. Khadija Mushtaq Executive Director of the Roots School System, DHA-I campus, Islamabad, welcomed everyone at the inauguration ceremony and shared the success of the community service project of girl empowerment by LGCF with everyone. She has diligently been promoting and encouraging empathy and community services among all students.

Riffat Mushtaq, Founder of Roots School System encouraged and appreciated the Roots School System students’ sensitivity and compassion towards the underprivileged section of the society and applauded their selfless efforts.

Dr. Nafisa Shah stressed that each girl of the project is the ‘Malala’ of Pakistan who can voice the indifferences and struggle to make a positive change around her. “Each young girl is a leader of tomorrow who can mutually cooperate with the government to initiate such enlightening programs and bridge the class differences that have been created in our society,” she added. 

By Ijaz Kakakhel

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Committee on Monday approved the Charter of Child Rights Bill 2010, which after approval from the NA would be enforced in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), and could be used as a model for provinces to make similar legislations.
Once the NA and Senate approve the bill, the law will become the Charter of Child Rights Act 2012 (CCRA).
MNA Dr Attiya Inayatullah told reporters that after the18th Amendment, such legislation was a big achievement keeping in view the provincial perspective. She said that the law covered various areas of child rights, including right to life, parental care, freedom of thought and religion, protection against violence, right to health, education, rest and recreation, protection against abuse and right to juvenile justice.
She added that the law would help protect children against abuse, trafficking, prostitution and other crimes
The law will only be enforced in ICT, and could facilitate provinces in framing child rights legislations, keeping in view international norms and standards.
The committee finalised the law in the presence of Ministry of Human Rights and Law Divisions. According to the proposed law, a child at risk is defined as an orphan or victim of parental neglect or lawful guardian, whose parents or guardians are unfit or incapacitated to look after his needs, and exercise control over him. A child at risk could also be one who is forced into the worst forms of child labour, exploitive labour or beggary.
According to the Basic Child Rights Framework, every child shall be respected without discrimination of any kind irrespective of the child or parent’s or legal guardian’s race, colour, sex and religion.
The National Assembly Select Committee approved the Charter of Child Rights Bill 2010 with the aim to protect and promote the right of Pakistan’s Children through legislation.
The bill was drafted by Dr Attiya Inayatullah in light of the provisions of the United Nations Conventions on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
The proposed law states that every child has the inherent right to life ranging from survival to self-development and provision of basic needs. The right to preserve identity as recognised by law is also respected.
The law also revealed that the arrest, detention or imprisonment of a child would be in conformity with the law and would only be used as a measure of last resort and for the shortest appropriate period of time.
The rights of challenged children were also recognised. The bill stated that all mentally and physically challenged children would enjoy a full and decent life, in conditions which ensure dignity, promote self-reliance and facilitate the child’s active participation in the community.

KARACHI: The National Nutrition Survey (NNS) 2011 has determined Sindh as the poorest and most food deprived province of the country, with only 28 per cent households having food security.
The details of the survey, which was conducted last year after a decade, show that little has changed over the last decade in terms of core maternal and childhood nutrition indicators in the province.
Unicef, Pakistan Medical Research Council and the nutrition wing of the federal government supported and collaborated with the Aga Khan University, Pakistan, which completed the survey with Prof Zulfiqar A. Bhutta as the chief investigator.
The situation, according to an expert, is alarming and calls for an enhanced national awareness and well designed interventions to reduce widespread malnutrition and poor dietary practices particularly among women and children in Sindh.
The latest study, a cross sectional survey involving about 30,000 sample households in all the urban and rural areas of the country, showed a gain in iodine status, which was however counterbalanced by significant deterioration in vitamin A status and little to no gain in other areas of micronutrient deficiencies.
The details of the new survey undertaken with specific aims of establishing the current benchmark of nutrition and related indicators for gauging progress along the targets set for the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) have alreadybeen announced in other provinces and the capital of the country.
The results showed that about 42pc of the households were food secure while the remaining 58pc were food insecure (adults and not children or both experienced the inadequacy of the household food supply without hunger or with hunger in the household) at national level.
The proportion of food insecure household was categorised as food insecure without hunger (28.4pc), food insecure with moderate hunger (19.8pc) and food insecure with severe hunger (9.8pc).
Sindh appeared as the poorest and food deprived province,because 72pcofthe sample households were found to be food insecure.
They included 21.1pc without hunger, 33.8 with moderate hunger and 16.8 with severe hunger.
In contrast, 4.3pc of the sample households in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir were food insecure with severe hunger, 4.5pc in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 5.8pc in Fata, 8.8pc in Punjab, 8.9pc in Gilgit-Baltistan and 11.5pc in Balochistan.
Interestingly, it was found that haemoglobin levels of both pregnant and non-pregnant women were at the maximum in Sindh.
Against the national level of 50.5pc non-pregnant women having haemoglobin within normal range, Sindh had 61.1pc such women, followed by Punjab with 48.8pc, Balochistan 48.7pc, Fata 45.5pc, AJK-41.3pc, KP 36.3pc and GB 23.4pc.
The data regarding pregnant women indicated that 51 per cent of women were haemoglobin deficient at the national level. Of them, 60.2pc belonged to Sindh, followed by 49.7pc from Punjab, 48.1pc from Balochistan, 43pc from the AJK, 35pcfrom the GB and 28.3pc from KP.
Vitamin D deficiency It was also found that there was a widespread deficiency of Vitamin D in Pakistan`s non-pregnant mothers (85pc) and 90.5 per cent of them lived in Sindh.
Also of the 86.1pc pregnant women with Vitamin D deficiency at the national level, Sindh had 84.6 per cent.
Discussing the prevalence of malnutrition among children, the latest report said that against the rate of 43pc stunting at national level, Sindh had 70pc rate.
Wasting in Sindh was found at 19.4pc against the overall national rate of 16.8pc.
Against the national level rate of anaemic children62.1pc, Sindh had 73.3pc of sample children anaemic, with severe or moderate deficiency of haemoglobin level.
The specific objectives of the NNS-2011 were assessment of the population nutritional status, especially of women and children; to collect data on height, weight and age of children between six and 59 months, mothers of these children, adolescent girls, adults and elderly; and to collect data on food intake and food security.
The report said that the rate of underweight children had dropped in comparison to the survey of 2001-02 but there was still much needed to be done to make up the zinc and vitamin deficiencies in Pakistan in general and Sindh children in specific.
The survey involving about 30,000 sample households was conducted in all urban and rural areas of four provinces of Pakistan. In the case of Sindh, the sample households numbered around 6,460, including 3,140 in urban areas and 3,320 in rural areas.