The government of Balochistan imposed a nutrition emergency in the province to control the situation, but despite0e of four years, the funds have not been released.

The number of malnourished children in the province is increasing every year, according to official statistics, the rate was 15% 10 years ago, which has now increased to 18.9%. It is feared that, according to international standards, if this rate is more than 15%, then the situation is extremely alarming.

According to medical experts, children affected by malnutrition suffer from physical problems. Compared to normal children, their weight and height decrease, and their mental health also affect them.

In the Department of Pediatrics at Provincial Sandeman Hospital, Quetta

Dr. Dastgir Khan, stationed in the ward of malnourished children, said that every day children are brought to the hospital for treatment who are malnourished, the disadvantages of being malnourished are they age their height does not increase, and the other is their brains increase

Adolescents are older than their age, their IQ levels are not at the same level as other normal children.

Almost half of the population of Balochistan is food insecure, on the other hand, a nutrition emergency was implemented across the province in 2018 to control the malnutrition situation among children in the province. Unfortunately, that was limited to the extent of government files. Despite the passage of five years, neither funds were approved in the provincial budget nor any practical steps were taken at the official level to control malnutrition.

The officers of the nutrition program in Quetta have the same complaint that there are no funds available for nutrition from the Balochistan government, No adequate steps are being taken for this While the situation is that a large number of children are malnourished in remote areas of the province and this number is increasing day by day, there is a need for attention on an emergency basis,  while it is a good thing that UNICEF By providing food to such children in some districts of the province under the program, it needs to be cultivated in other districts of the province.

districts of Balochistan were also affected by the rains during the monsoon season last year, where normal life was badly affected, thousands of people were affected, and the economic hardships of the people of the already disadvantaged province. There was a further increase, and especially food shortages and it exists in many affected areas of the province, and the number of malnourished children also increased.

There are problems, which are affecting their health and development

Medical experts have warned that if this situation continues, the situation may get worse in the coming days. In view of all these situations, the government should show seriousness and implement the nutrition emergency in practice so that the nutritional deficiency in children can be met.