CM launches EU-funded programme for improved nutrition in Sindh
KARACHI, (MILLAT ONLINE):KARACHI, Jan 31 (APP): Chief Minister of Sindh, Syed Murad Ali
Shah launching a European Union (EU)-funded Programme, worth 68
million Euro, for Improved Nutrition in Sindh (PINS) announced
absolute commitment to help raise maternal and child health status in
the province.
Addressing a ceremony to mark the occasion, Tuesday evening, Shah
acknowledged that situation related to malnutrition had emerged to be
quite serious and demanded sincere and concerted efforts at every
level in the province.
“Sindh government is committed to take up these challenges on
priority basis,” he said mentioning that major focus, under the
scheme, would be on reducing the stunting rate from the existing 48 %
to 40 % by 2021.
Expressing his gratitude to the EU for supporting PINS, the Sindh
chief minister expressed his confidence that coordinated efforts would
help address the situation on strong lines.
“The fact saddens me that half of Sindh’s women and children
suffer from stunting and malnutrition, which is a great burden, and we
have to make this programme successful for our province,” he said.
Syed Murad Ali Shah appreciated that the primary focus of the
programme was to improve the nutritional status of children under five
years and of pregnant and lactating Women (PLW) on sustainable
grounds.
It was acknowledged that overall, Sindh had the highest rate of
child and maternal undernutrition, 40 percent and 62 percent
respectively; child anaemia 73 percent, and food insecurity standing
at 72 percent in Pakistan.
Coordinator to chief minister Sindh on nutrition Mir Hussain Ali
on the occasion said the programme would be implemented in ten
districts of Sindh namely Shikarpur, Thatta, Kambar Shahdadkot,
Larkana, Dadu, Jamshoro, Matiari, Sajawal, Tando Allahyar and Tando
Muhammad Khan.
“The programme will focus on capacity building of the Government
of Sindh and other stakeholders on nutrition-related policy and
strategy development,” he said..
Mir Hussain Ali mentioned that PINS would encompass treatment of
malnutrition and Severe Acute Malnutrition right from identification
phase to outpatient therapeutic programme care.
“There will also be provision for nutrition stabilization
centres, according to standard protocols, in health facilities
supported by an outreach programme to screen children and women,
referral system for children’s follow up,” he said.
According to the coordinator, attention will also be paid towards
behaviour change oriented communication programme for improved child
care and nutrition specific sanitation and feeding practices.
“Under the programme, small farmers with less than five acres of
land would be particularly supported for improved crop production
through introduction of climate-smart crop production technologies,
training and provision of inputs,” he said.
PINS was said to be jointly implemented by Rural Support
Programmes Network (RSPN), National Rural Support Programme (NRSP),
Sindh Rural Support Organisation (SRSO) and Thardeep Rural Development
Programme (TRDP), with Action Against Hunger (ACF) and Conseil Sante
as programme partners.
The four-year programme was said to specifically focus on
building the capacities of the government of Sindh for an effective
implementation of its multi-sectoral nutrition policy while providing
direct assistance to significantly and rapidly reducing malnutrition
in rural Sindh.
The Ambassador of European Union to Pakistan, Jean-Francois
Cautain said malnutrition and stunting did not only affect children
but had an impact on the concerned society, with specific reference to
overall growth.
Referring to other programmes of EU on nutrition and poverty
reduction, the ambassador said EU’s support to fight malnutrition was
one element that was further complimented through different
interventions.
“Support to improve nutritional status of children and mothers is
part of EU’s commitment to reduce stunting at global level,” he said
adding that goal is to reduce stunting at least by 7 million children
around the world by 2025.
Chairman of Sindh Planning & Development Board, Muhammad Waseem
also spoke on the occasion and referred to programs supported by EU in
the province.
Sindh Minister for Planning & Development Mir Hazar Khan
Bajarani, provincial secretaries, Sindh government and EU officials,
CEOs and management of RSPs and PINS partner organisations,
development professionals, academia and journalists attended the
event.
RSPN Chairman, Shoaib Sultan Khan in his vote of thanks said
communities were being actively involved at every level so that the
impact of programme could be made long lasting.