Daily Times

Pakistan is ranked amongst the top seven countries with the highest number of diarrhea cases and the increasing number of deaths associated to it.

This was stated by Sindh General Health Additional Director Dr Waqar Mahmood in a workshop arranged on Tuesday by Nutrition International for journalists and media personnel on diarrhea prevention and management in children younger than five years of age.

The workshop focused on the harmful effects of diarrhea in child growth and nutrition and intended to sensitise audience on utilisation of mass media in influencing knowledge and thereby changing behaviours.

Dr Waqar Mahmood added that it is imperative that our countrymen should understand the importance of health and nutrition of children and adapt all necessary measures to prevent deaths caused as a result of these illnesses.

It is pertinent to mention that despite the great progress made by media science and the many new tools and vaccines now available to protect children, far too many preventable child deaths occur.

NI Provincial Manager Dr Fatima Saad highlighted the need for programmes addressing child health and especially diarrhea in Pakistan. NI is conducting a capacity development programme in collaboration with Lady Health Worker programme to support the use of low osmolality ORS and zinc management of diarrhea.

Published in Daily Times, October 10^th 2018.