‘Contaminated water, poor hygiene behind malnutrition crisis’

Islamabad: Contaminated water, poor sanitation and hygiene conditions are the primary contributors to malnutrition in Pakistan, with 80% of maln­ourished children living in areas plagued by inadequate Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) conditions, public health experts revealed during a policy dialogue on Tuesday.

“Contaminated or unsafe water, poor sanitary conditions, and unhygienic environments are the root causes of water-borne diseases, including diarrhoea, which significantly contribute to malnutrition in Pakistan,” Prof. Shahzad Ali Khan, Vice Chancellor of HSA said during the event held at the Health Services Academy (HSA). “Without improving WASH conditions, efforts to address under nutrition will remain futile.” The dialogue, titled ‘The Role of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene in Infection Prevention and Control in Pakistan’, gathered experts from the National Institute of Health (NIH), WaterAid, the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (NHSR&C), and other stakeholders.

Prof. Khan emphasised that addressing WASH is vital for improving nutritional health, as identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) in its key focus areas for combating malnutrition globally. He warned, “The cost of inaction is reflected in the high disease burden. If we do not invest in preventive measures and improve nutrition, treatment costs will become unsustainable.”

Highlighting the historical challenge, he termed WASH a 150-year-old public health issue for countries like Pakistan. “The HSA stands ready to support awareness and advocacy efforts with our faculty and students to improve WASH services,” he added.

Dr. Mumtaz Ali Khan, chief of the CDC at NIH, noted that untreated wastewater poses a serious health threat. “Improperly managed wastewater is a source of numerous diseases. It can harbor harmful pathogens like bacteria, viruses, and parasites, leading to conditions such as cholera, typhoid, dysentery, and hepatitis A,” he stated.

He further elaborated that stagnant wastewater creates breeding grounds for mosquitoes, exacerbating the spread of vector-borne diseases like malaria and dengue fever. "Effective wastewater management, proper sewage treatment, and improved sanitation infrastructure are essential to protect public health," Dr. Mumtaz emphasized.

Country Head of WaterAid, Junaid Khan, stressed the importance of clean water access and hygiene for sustainable health outcomes. “Improving WASH services is crucial for reducing disease transmission and enhancing the overall health of communities. It requires collaborative efforts from government, civil society, and international partners,” he said.

Dr. Mehreen Mujtaba from the Ministry of NHSR&C announced a pilot project aimed at improving WASH services in areas under the ministry’s administrative control. “We are fully committed to supporting initiatives that address this pressing health challenge,” she said.

Dr. Babar Tasneem Shaikh, Director ORIC at HSA, and other experts reiterated the importance of integrating WASH services with national health strategies to achieve long-term health improvements and prevent disease outbreaks.

Senior health experts called for a comprehensive action to improve water and sanitation infrastructure, emphasising the need for awareness campaigns and policy-level interventions to combat malnutrition and improve infection prevention and control across Pakistan.