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Nutrition programme delayed due to funds delay
QUETTA: The Enhanced Balochistan Nutrition Programme for Mother and Child is delayed due insufficient financial share from Government of Balochistan. Similarly, Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) is awaiting funds from government, said speakers at a seminar. The pre-budget seminar on EPI, Nutrition and Lady Health Workers was organized by Save the Children here, on Wednesday. The health experts said that immunization coverage of Balochistan is merely 16% 227 union councils don’t have a vaccinator. Similar is the situation of nutrition in the province where 16% of children are malnourished. It is an alarming situation according to World Health Organization (WHO) if the prevalence of malnutrition among children is 15% there must be nutrition emergency. Malnutrition and low immunization coverage contributed increase in child mortality. The experts told the neonatal death rate is 63/1000 (within 28 days of delivery) whereas, 111/1000 children die till the age of five.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk