Malnutrition must be fought: Husain

New Delhi: The President Dr. Zakir Husain, today called for international cooperation in fighting malnutrition and the shortage of health personnel in South- East Asia.

Inaugurating the twentieth anniversary of the World Health Organisation ( WHO) and the twenty- first session of the WHO Regional Committee, the President said political conflicts in the world were caused mainly by fear, and the solution to political and economic problems could be assisted by greater international co- operation in matters like health where there was no reason for any kind of conflict. He was confident that the regional organisation would exert considerable influence in fostering friendship among nations.

Attending the week- long session are delegates from the nine members- countries of regional organisation, Afghanistan, Burma, Ceylon, Indonesia, Maldive Islands, Mangolia, Nepal Thailand and India.

The President underlined that the health problems of the newly independent and developing countries were peculiarly their own. It was estimated that 70 per cent of young children in developing countries, nearly 266 million were suffering from malnutrition which was a result of protein and vitamin deficiencies in the staple food.

Citing experts to say that malnutrition in the formative years of a child had a deleterious effect on its future growth which was irreversible, he said “such great problems like malnutrition should be solved at an international level. It is here that a regional organisation, like the one for South- East Asia region, can help to channelise collective efforts in the field.