Pakistan is facing a growing but largely ignored public health crisis. Research shows that every second woman in the country is affected by anaemia. The condition is weakening women, endangering pregnancies, and threatening the health of future generations. Despite its widespread impact, anaemia continues to receive limited attention at both policy and household levels.
Health experts warn that the issue is no longer isolated. It has become a national challenge linked to nutrition, population growth, and access to healthcare.
Anaemia Deeply Affects Women of Reproductive Age
According to research findings, around 41 percent of Pakistani women aged 15 to 49 suffer from anaemia. This age group includes most women of reproductive age. Each year, more than 900,000 pregnant women in Pakistan are affected by the condition.
Iron deficiency is identified as the leading cause. Poor dietary intake, lack of supplements, and repeated pregnancies leave women physically depleted. Common symptoms include fatigue, weakness, dizziness, and shortness of breath. For many women, these symptoms have become part of daily life.
Doctors say anaemia significantly increases pregnancy risks. It raises the chances of complications during childbirth. It also affects maternal recovery after delivery. Pakistan’s high fertility rate worsens the situation. Short gaps between pregnancies prevent women from regaining lost nutrients.
Nutrition Gaps and Population Pressure Fuel the Crisis
Medical professionals point to household dynamics as a major factor. As family sizes grow, food resources are stretched thin. Women often prioritize feeding children and other family members. Their own nutritional needs are neglected.
Limited access to healthcare further compounds the problem. In many areas, women lack routine health checkups. Iron supplements are either unavailable or unaffordable. Awareness about balanced diets remains low, especially in rural regions.
Experts say population pressure plays a central role. When families grow rapidly, health services struggle to keep up. This leads to widespread nutritional deficiencies among women.
Children Also Pay the Price of Anaemia
The impact of anaemia extends beyond mothers. Pakistan ranks second in South Asia for anaemia among children. Every year, an estimated 2.8 million children are diagnosed with blood deficiency.
Children born to anaemic mothers are often underweight. They face delayed physical and mental development. These children are more likely to fall sick and perform poorly in school.
Doctors explain that this creates a dangerous cycle. Anaemic mothers give birth to weak children. Those children grow up with health challenges, continuing the pattern into the next generation.
Experts Call for Nutrition and Family Planning Solutions
Health experts stress that anaemia is not just a medical issue. It is a social and developmental problem. They emphasize the need for better nutrition awareness, iron supplementation programs, and improved maternal healthcare.
Family planning services are also seen as essential. Wider access can help reduce repeated pregnancies and allow women time to recover physically.
Experts believe that easing population pressure will improve food security and healthcare access. This, they say, can lead to healthier women, stronger children, and a more resilient Pakistan.
