KARACHI:Chief Secretary Sindh Syed Mumtaz Ali Shah has said that the government is addressing nutrition-related challenges through fortification of staple foods as per WHO guidelines.
This he said while addressing at UKAID and DFID Food Fortification Programmed Sindh launching ceremony at a local hotel in Karachi on Wednesday. The Chief Secretary Sindh stated that Pakistan has a very high burden of malnutrition, which has not changed over the last four decades.
Most of the children with challenges of mental and physical growth are found deficient in essential minerals and vitamins. Therefore, it is important that the food must be enriched with nutrient and vitamins. The Government of Sindh is addressing nutrition-related challenges through fortification of staple foods.
As per WHO guidelines, Wheat flour is being fortified and edible oil and ghee are also added with vitamins A, D and B12 to enhance their nutrition value. Government of Sindh is striving to improve the nutrition of its people through various nutrition interventions and one of those is, of course, food fortification. We are taking effective measures to address malnutrition challenges by ensuring provision of fortified wheat flour and edible oil to those segments of the society that are facing malnutrition”.
We do understand that partnership between both public and private sector is important for jointly handing the micronutrient malnutrition challenge, for that cooperation between the Department of Food, the Food Fortification Program, and private sector organization is crucial for the successful implementation and sustainability of food fortification regime. While highlighting the role of Sindh Food Authority the CS stated that SFA is also playing an important role in monitoring and regulation of food in the province.
Sindh Food Authority must ensure regulatory compliances regarding the implementation of fortification standards. He further assured the participants that the Government of Sindh will provide complete support for implementation of the Food Fortification Program. He expressed his hope that this initiative undertaken by the DFID funded Food Fortification Program will benefit the people of Sindh particularly women and children.
Speaking during the ceremony Sindh Health Minister Azra Fazal Pechoho has said that a bill regarding food fortification will also be tabled in the provincial assembly. She further stated that the people should read description written on every product regarding minerals and nutrition available in the products.
The FFP Team leader stated that In Pakistan malnutrition, particularly micronutrient deficiency, is a major challenge. Various factors are involved but inadequate dietary intake of nutrient-rich food is the biggest reason. According to the National Nutrition Survey, 2011, there are very high rates of micronutrient deficiencies: 51% of pregnant women are anemic, 37% iron deficient, 46% deficient in vitamin A and 69% deficient in vitamin D. Similarly, the problem also prevails in children, with 62% of those under five suffering from anemia, and 54% from vitamin A deficiency.
Such deficiencies cause a host of health complications; affect educational attainment, and ultimately economic productivity. DFID head Joanna Reid in her speech stated that this is 48 million pound UK funded program and this will be highly beneficial for the children and women. She further stated that under food fortification program MOUs were signed with 132 oil and ghee mills and 613 flour mills though out the country.