Key nutrients linked to good health

Islamabad: Nutrition is at the base of good health, said University of Health Sciences Vice-Chancellor and founding president of the Pakistan Society of Internal Medicine Prof Javed Akram on Wednesday.

“Getting important nutrients through an adequate nutrition is instrumental for people to grow and stay healthy at all stages of life. Among solutions that can remedy malnutrition and improve outcomes, are medically tailored meals, meal replacements, and nutritional supplements,” Prof Javed told a function held to launch a report on the state of clinical nutrition in the country.

On the occasion, Vice-President of Pakistan Nutrition and Dietetic Society Lieutenant Commander Rabia Anwer regretted that there’s a lack of trained nutritionists and dietitians in Pakistan.

“Most patients are not screened for malnutrition upon admission into hospital, so many commence their stay facing a hurdle, and more than two thirds of those with malnutrition decline further during their stay,” she said.

The expert said if afflicted patients were identified early on and provided with a suitable diet by a trained dietitian, then complications, length of stay, readmission rates, mortality and cost of care would all be reduced.

The report developed by the Economist Intelligence Unit with the support of Abbott pharmaceutical company highlighted the challenges facing the healthcare system in adapting appropriate nutrition programs and outlined the opportunities that lie ahead.

It called for efforts to reinforce the role of nutrition in fostering a healthy living.

According to the report, the main causes of the currently bleak situation are food insecurity, a dearth of nutritionists and dietitians and an insufficient public awareness of the importance of nutrition, both in hospital and at home.

“A lack of nutritional knowledge among clinical staff in Pakistan is a persistent issue, and that giving the right food to patients is the simplest, safest, and cheapest way to provide nutritional care.”

Asim Shafiq, general manager of Abbott’s nutrition business in Pakistan and Iraq, said though there’s a multitude of challenges, the government was committed to turning them into opportunities.

He added that his company was helping the government in that respect as a trusted strategic healthcare partner through a wide variety of science-based nutrition products.