CM launches EU-funded programme for improved nutrition in Sindh

KARACHI: Chief Minister of Sindh, Syed Murad Ali Shah, here on Tuesday launched a European Union (EU)-funded Programme, worth 68 million Euro, for Improved Nutrition in Sindh (PINS).

Addressing the ceremony, Shah acknowledged that situation related to malnutrition has 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, will be 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 will 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 is 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 has the highest rate of child and maternal under nutrition, 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 program will 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 will 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 will 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-François Cautain said malnutrition and stunting does not only affect children but has 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 is one element that is 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 are being actively involved at every level so that the impact of programme could be made long lasting.