ISLAMABAD:
The anemia crisis, a debilitating condition affecting millions of children, adolescent girls and women in Pakistan, is quietly draining the country’s economy, costing more than $3 billion in lost productivity and human capital.
With annual losses estimated at $2.5 billion for children alone and an additional $595 million for adolescent girls and women, the total economic cost of anemia exceeds $3 billion, according to the recent Cost of Inaction (COI) report. from Nutrition International.
Despite some improvements, anemia remains a serious public health challenge. Among children between 6 and 59 months, 53% suffer from anemia, and 2.8 million new cases are reported each year. Pakistan ranks second in South Asia in prevalence of childhood anemia and 39th globally.
The situation is equally worrying for women and adolescents: 41.3% suffer from anemia. Pakistan ranks fourth in South Asia and 35th worldwide in prevalence of anemia in this group. Each year, more than 23.9 million new cases are reported among adolescent girls and women ages 15 to 49, including 918,154 cases among pregnant women.
The report highlights multiple factors that contribute to anemia in Pakistan. In children, iron deficiency due to inadequate dietary intake, recurrent infections and poor maternal nutrition are key causes.
Among adolescent girls and women, inadequate iron intake, frequent pregnancies, and chronic diseases further exacerbate the condition. Maternal anemia not only affects women’s health but also increases the risk of complications during pregnancy and adverse outcomes for newborns.
Dr. Shabina Raza, National Director, Nutrition International, emphasized the long-term consequences of anemia.
“Anemia is a major public health challenge in Pakistan, particularly among children and women of reproductive age. It affects cognitive development, school performance and productivity in adulthood, creating a lasting impact on the country’s economic growth,” said.
The World Health Assembly (WHA) aims to reduce the prevalence of anemia by 50% by 2025. However, Pakistan faces formidable challenges in achieving this goal. The report highlights that iron deficiency, a leading cause of anemia, continues to undermine productivity and maternal health outcomes.
“The loss of human capital due to anemia represents not only a health crisis but also an economic burden that Pakistan cannot afford to ignore. Addressing anemia through nutrition-focused interventions is crucial to building a healthier and more sustainable society.” productive,” stated the Ministry of National Health Services.
Anemia-related economic losses reflect decreased cognitive function, reduced school performance, and reduced work performance. Iron deficiency anemia alone poses long-term developmental challenges for children and productivity losses for adults.
While anemia remains one of the most pressing health problems, the broader cost of malnutrition is staggering. The report estimates an annual economic cost of $17 billion due to malnutrition, representing 4.6% of Pakistan’s gross national income (GNI).
Stunting accounts for the largest proportion, with an economic impact of $16 billion a year, or 4.2% of GNI. Low birth weight contributes an additional $7.1 billion to the economic burden, creating long-term challenges for human capital development and national growth.
