Speakers urge to focus on early childhood health

ISLAMABAD, Apr 05 (APP): Experts have pledged to strengthen child nutrition framework by calling for unified legislation and the revival of infant feeding boards to protect early childhood health.

The commitment was expressed during a high-level roundtable conference titled “From Fragmented Policies to Enforceable Rights,” organized by the Health Services Academy in collaboration with UNICEF at the Islamabad High Court Bar Association.

Key stakeholders including government representatives, health experts, and development partners emphasized that child nutrition must be treated not as a policy goal but as a fundamental legal right.

UNICEF Representative Pernille Ironside said that around 40 percent of children in Pakistan suffer from stunting due to chronic malnutrition.

She said that the country’s future depends on the health and development of its children, calling for a shift from commitments to concrete, enforceable actions.

Speakers also suggested the supportive environments for mothers, noting that access to daycare facilities and dedicated breastfeeding spaces in workplaces is critical to improving infant nutrition outcomes.

The forum concluded with strong recommendations, including the immediate restoration of Infant Feeding Boards to enhance monitoring and accountability, as well as strict action against violations related to the promotion of breast milk substitutes.

Participants further called for a centralized mechanism to align federal and provincial efforts, ensuring a coordinated national response to child malnutrition.

The stakeholders were of view that implementation of structural reforms are essential to prevent children from risk of physical and cognitive challenges.