Nutritional needs of women are greater than those of men and change at different life stages. Women nutrition needs were discussed at a seminar organized by Nutrition International in collaboration with Health Services Academy to commemorate International Women’s Day 2022.
The expert speakers from renowned institutions stressed the need for equitable access to optimal nutrition for women to realize the dream of a healthy and prosperous Pakistan.
Nutrition International and HSA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote nutrition education, research, and capacity building of students & professionals in a concerted manner.
While addressing the participants of seminar, the Chief Guest, Dr. Nausheen Hamid- Parliamentary Secretary for National Health Services, stated that the government is now discussing nutrition sensitive policies. It is time that women nutrition should also become a part of these efforts. Pakistan has the highest neonatal mortality rates in the region and focus on adolescent nutrition shall go a long way in countering this problem.
Prof. Dr. Shahzad Ali Khan, Vice Chancellor – HSA shared that the Government of Pakistan is committed to address health and nutrition issues of women and has finalized “National Maternal Nutrition Strategy” that will be launched in the coming weeks. He also discussed avenues for nutrition sensitive policy making.
Dr. Shamsa Rizwan – Head of Gynae Department, PAF Hospital informed that women become especially vulnerable to different kind of diseases after menopause and it is a time that needs special attention towards changing lifestyle; including regular light exercise and fulfilling depleting nutritional resources through supplementation and healthy food. Ensuring good nutrition at this stage can help avoid the risks of heart and bone diseases.
Highlighting the needs for gender equal access to food and nutrition, Dr. Syed Imran Haider – Chairman, Department of Sociology, Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad said that in Pakistan, at least 1 in 4 girls are married before 18 years of age and experience complications in childbirth. The complexity is manifold due to discriminatory gender norms, especially related to decision making and household level food consumption patterns.
