The menace of malnutrition continues to pose a deadly threat to children in Sindh’s Tharparker region as three more minors died, on Sunday, due to complications from poor diet or starvation. Sources in the health department stated that these minors have breathed their last in the previous two days, making the total number of deaths, 47 in the month of February and 118 for this year as of now. The children succumbed to malnutrition and other diseases prevalent in the area, the officials added. Deaths due to undernutrition continue to escalate at alarming rates in Tharparker. The health department notes that as many as 1,500 children lose the battle to undernutrition, infections and a dire shortage of medical facilities in the remote region every year. The UN Children Fund reported in April 2018 that Pakistan had the worst indicators regarding the infant mortality rates worldwide, wherein as many as 22 infants die in their first month. Eight African and two Asian countries were included in the list, while Afghanistan was ranked third.
Published in Daily Times, February 25th 2019.
