Agriculture, economics and nutrition more than 23% children are lost before born due to lack of food for pregnant women and the number of people affected by hunger will increase by another two billion by 2050.
An discussion meeting regarding new curriculum of the “Program for Improved Nutrition in Sindh” (PINS) Funded by the European Union and Accelerated Action Plan (AAP), Government of Sindh was held in Sindh Agriculture University (SAU) Tandojam, under the auspices of Vice Chancellor Dr. Fateh Marri, at conference hall of the university on Friday.
The meeting discussed issues related to food shortage in Sindh and launching of diploma courses and preparation of curriculum for such knowledge in universities and important briefings were also presented by experts from EU and Sindh government.
Dr. Ayesha Aziz, Senior Nutrition Advisor, EU, Mushtaq Ahmad Shahani, Agriculture Strategic Advisor, and Muhammad Akbar Raza, Livestock and Agriculture Strategic Advisor, Dr. Qamaruddin Chachar, Dean, Faculty of Crop Production, Dr. Jan Muhammad Marri, Dean, Faculty of Crop Protection; Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ismail Kumbhar, Director, University Advancement and Financial Assistance; Dr. Saba Ambreen Memon, Chairperson, Department of Horticulture, Dr. AIjaz Ahmed Soomro Chairman Department of Agronomy and others were present during meeting.
Speaking on the occasion, Vice Chancellor Dr. Fateh Marri said Sindh’s children are suffering from severe malnutrition, poverty and early marriages of girls, he said lack of nutrition and minerals in pregnant women and dangerous situation for the declining health of children which is emerging, and children rapidly losing their weight, height and mental health.
Dr. Ayesha Ahmed said that 3.1 million (almost half) children under the age of five are dying due to malnutrition, she said that Sindh Agriculture University and with collaboration of Health, Population Welfare, Education, Livestock, Fisheries, Social sciences and other departments, a diploma and degree program will also be started and the graduates of university will render their services in the related fields.
Dr. Jan Mohammad Marri, Dean, Faculty of Crop Protection, said that Thar is the only area in Sindh where more children are dying due to malnutrition, while there is milk, meat, organic fruits and vegetables and mushrooms to meet the nutritional deficiencies for the children and women from thar, the project should be started in the sub-campus, Umerkot.
Mushtaq Ahmad Shahani said that new curriculum and degree program on health, nutrition, agricultural products and human development should be included in the in public sector universities so that future generations can be protected from malnutrition.
Prof. Dr. Ismail Kambhar said that SAU already has such subjects, but new research can be done jointly with national and international organizations in the field, he said that the problem of nutrition is not only related to the health sector but also the purchasing power and economic problems of the people.
Muhammad Akbar Raza, Dr. Saba Ambreen Memon, Dr. Gulfam, Dr. Tehseen Fatima Miano, Dr. Asiya Panhwar, Dr. Asadullah Marri, Dr. Shoaib Pirzada, Dr. Farman Siyal and others were also present on the occasion.
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