The social and economic future of any country is directly associated with its children. If the coming generation is healthy, then the country’s future is secure. However, if the children of a country are suffering from malnutrition and resulting stunted growth, the future of that country is neither resilient nor sustainable. Pakistan is no exception to this fact.
According to the World Bank Group, 40 percent of children under five in Pakistan suffer from stunted growth. Unfortunately, not enough progress has been made in the past 30 years to mitigate this issue. Our children deserve better.
### What is Child Stunting?
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines stunting as reduced growth and development in children caused by poor nutrition, repeated infections, and insufficient opportunities to play and learn. The first 1,000 days of a child’s life—from conception until the child turns two—are crucial to preventing stunting.
If stunting occurs during this period, it can lead to adverse functional consequences such as poor cognition and educational performance, lost productivity, and low adult wages.
### The Need for Urgent Action in Pakistan
For Pakistan to embark on sustainable social and economic development, it must ensure that pregnant women, mothers, and children receive adequate nutrition. Additionally, preventing repeated infections in children is essential.
The WHO reports that every day in Pakistan, 27 mothers and 675 newborns (under one month old) die from preventable complications. These alarming figures highlight the urgent need for improvement.
The United Nations (UN) defines sustainable development as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. To implement sustainable development fully in Pakistan, future generations must become the top priority.
### Eradicating Stunting: A Systematic Approach
Tackling stunting requires addressing multiple challenges simultaneously. One essential step is initiating a green revolution to produce twice as much food from existing resources.
However, agricultural practices can also harm the environment. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), agriculture is a major contributor to eutrophication in surface water. Therefore, protecting water bodies and ensuring the availability of safe drinking water is critical, as waterborne diseases remain a leading cause of childhood mortality and stunted growth.
Besides improving agricultural efficiency, promoting mobile hospitals is vital to preventing repeated infections among children. These mobile healthcare units should be equipped with proper air-conditioning to prevent the wastage of medication and vaccines during transportation.
The WHO states that vaccines lose their effectiveness much faster when exposed to temperatures above +8 degrees Celsius. Ensuring steady air-conditioning in mobile hospitals will help preserve vaccines and medications, enabling better protection against infections in children across Pakistan.
### Creating Supportive Learning Environments
Finally, it is essential that all schools provide proper playgrounds where children can play and realize their full potential. Pre-schools and schools should adopt educational models that offer children equal opportunities to learn and play.
### Conclusion
We cannot take our future generation for granted and still hope for sustainable development. To secure Pakistan’s future, we must prioritize the health, nutrition, and overall well-being of our children today. Addressing child stunting is not just a health issue—it is a critical investment in the country’s resilience and prosperity for decades to come.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1345103-for-futures-sake
About the Author
