35% child deaths linked to malnutrition in Pakistan: UAF VC
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FAISALABAD: As many as 1,200 children under five years of age die every day in the country, while 35 per cent of child deaths are linked with malnutrition.This was stated by University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) Vice Chancellor Dr Iqbal Zafar while presiding over the International Symposium on Health and Nutrition here Monday.
The event was organised by Molecular Care Lab, Department of Biochemistry, UAF, at Iqbal Auditorium.He said that 80 million people in Pakistan were nutrient-deficient.
He called for food fortification to address the issue of food security, adding that 276 out of 100,000 women, who give birth, die of causes relating to pregnancy and childbirth.
Pakistan Council for Science and Technology Chairman Dr Anwar-ul-Hassan Gilani said: "The waist parameter defines a male obese with 40 and 25% body fat and for females, it is 35 inch and 35% body fat.
He said that most of the world population lives in the countries where obesity and overweight kills more people than underweight.He said that even children are suffering from obesity due to lack of physical activities and junk food.
Dean Faculty of Sciences Prof Dr Muhammad Asghar Bajwa said that over 70 per cent of world's food-insecure population lives in rural areas in developing countries. He said that 60 per cent of women are deficient of vitamin D.
Dr Khalil-ur-Rehman stressed the need for changing lifestyle, ensuring nutritive food and potable water for a healthy life.Dr Amir Jamil said that sanitation, water and other issues were causing health hazards. He said that one third of children were underweight in the country while 44 per cent are stunted.
