Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that his government is committed to eradicate malnutrition to safeguard the future of children.

He was speaking at a workshop on 'Multi-sectoral convergence strategy on stunting & malnutrition in Sindh', organised by the Planning & Development Department in collaboration with the World Bank at a local hotel.

The event was attended by Minister P&D Syed Nasir Shah, Minister Health Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, World Bank officials including Country Director Najy Benhassine, Regional Director Mrs. Nicole Klingen, and others.

Later on Dr Sahib Jaan Badar brief in a program that, half (50%) of children under five years of age in Sindh province are stunted, which has both adverse physical and cognitive development effects and are a result of chronic or recurrent malnutrition. Forty-one percent (41%) of children under five years of age in Sindh province are underweight studies have found the critical age of vulnerability to stunting is six to 24 months and is associated with poor breastfeeding practices, nutritionally poor food (given in addition to breast milk after the age of six months) and repeated infections, which may be due to poor water quality and sanitation.

DG SFA AGHA FAKHUR HUSSAIN expressed his views as , the said workshop would enhance understanding of the situation of malnutrition and stunting in Sindh and will be able to explore new vistas to fight it better than before.