ISLAMABAD, Nov 21: Why the government did not swing into action, after the National Nutrition Survey 2011 reported that 420,000 children died due to malnutrition?

But organisers of a new exhibition hope to draw the attention of the government hoping that they would prioritise mother and child health, before it’s too late.

Bringing to light through images, Save the Children is asking the government to get their act right. Recognising that every child needs healthy nutrition, Save the Children inaugurated a photo exhibition at the National Art Gallery. The display also marked the Universal Children’s Day to highlight the importance of maternal and child health in Pakistan.

The exhibition was part of a global campaign initiated by Save the Children, calling on the federal and provincial governments to increase the number of frontline health workers in the country to provide mothers with skilled support to improve child-feeding practices, including breastfeeding.

In addition, the governments must take measures to ensure that mother-to-mother support groups are established to improve feeding practices. The exhibition was inaugurated by Ambassador of Sweden to Pakistan Lars-Hjalmar Wide.

As many as one hundred large coloured photographs drew the attention of visitors, when the exhibition opened at the National Art Gallery Wednesday evening. There was special focus on three areas – shortage of lady workers as well as the importance of health workers, necessity to improve vaccination and appropriate nutrition for the development of children.

“There is a dire need for more lady health workers to fill major gaps in the marginalised areas where people do not have easy access to basic health facilities, to help save lives of mothers and children. There is only one vaccinator for 10, 000 people. And according to the statistics in the National Nutrition Survey 2011, out of the 420, 000 plus deaths in one year, 327, 000 children died due to lack of nourishment, a year after birth,” said Campaign Manager, Save the Children, Yasmeen Ikramullah, explaining how in Pakistan, the campaign laid emphasis on ensuring training and deployment of lady health workers in marginalised areas, ensuring routine immunisation of children to protect them against preventable diseases such as malaria, diarrhea and pneumonia.

The photographs were taken by four private photographers hired to go into far-flung areas, where efforts were being made to improve mother and child health.

The display began with the image of a lady health worker knocking on a door to administer a vaccination. Another showed four-year-old Summaya, looking towards the approaching Field Vaccination Team at a local government school from Mardan. Another showed mothers getting their children checked from a Basic Health Unit set up by Save the Children in Muradabad, Muzaffargarh, and another captures Samina, a lady health worker conducting vaccination.

Several other images depicted children getting shots for measles, being weighed after birth, and images of breastfeeding. Guests speakers took turns to elaborate on the endeavours made and steps needed.