ISLAMABAD: The health experts at a workshoponTuesdayhad aconsensusthat malnutrition among children was one of the biggest issues of the country and needed immediate attention.

The workshop: Pak Strategy Development Workshop was organised by Scaling Up Nutrition Civil Society Alliance Pakistan (SUN), an alliance of over 100 non-governmental organizations (NGOs), in collaboration with the Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) at a local hotel.

The experts informed the participants that the country was facing a silent crisis of malnutrition that was amongst the worst in the world and had not improved for dec-ades. The 2011 National Nutrition Survey (NNS) showed that stunting, wasting and micronutrient malnutrition are endemic in Pakistan,the experts said.

Moreover, Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS) 2012-13 indicated that there was a huge change in maternal and childhood nutrition indicators.

In children under the age of hve, the situation is worse as 61.9 per cent have anaemia, 43.8 per cent have iron deficiency, 54 per cent vitamin A, 39.2 per cent zinc and 40 per cent have vitamin D deficiency.

The experts said 45 per cent children were stunted in 2013 as compared to 43.7 per cent in 2011 and 41.6 per cent in the 2001.

According to the PDHS, 11 per cent children were wasted as compared to 15.1 percent in 2011 and 14.3 per cent in 2001.

Moreover, the PDHS showed 30 per cent children were underweight as compared to 31.5 per cent in 2011.

Participants were informed that the only success story is the use of iodine as according to 2011 survey, 69.1 per cent people, as compared to 17 per cent in 2001, were using iodised salt.

The health services director, Nutrition, Dr Baseer Achakzai, said malnutrition was the biggest issue of the country.

`Just after a decade children of today will play an important role in the development of the country. However they will not be able to contribute fully if they remain stunted,` he said.

National Manager Micronutrient Initiative Dr. Ahsanullah Khan said all food affects the body so it should beensured to have pure and safe food.

`People should always use refined salt.

Huge bricks of salt are broken with explosives due to which different particles of the explosive remain attached with the bricks and that salt badly affects the health,` he said.

Former secretary of alliance Arshad Mahmood said although alliance had been made but there is a need to further activate it.

`All the tactics including media and social media should be used to influence the policies. Otherwise there will be very bad health situation after 10 years,` he said.

SUN focal person Dr Ali Ahmad Khan said overcoming the current malnutrition crisis can result in 3 to 4 per cent GDP increase for Pakistan.