$10 million MoU signed for mother, child health programme

United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (Unicef) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) here on Friday, to spend 10 million dollars for "Mother and Child Health Programme" in Pakistan. Country Representative of WFP, German Valdivia and Country Representative of Unicef, Omar Ahmed Abidi signed the MoU., WHO Country Representative, Dr Khalif Bile, was also present.
WFP and Unicef will work jointly in selected health care government facilities in eight districts that include: Mianwali, Rajanpur, Muzaffargarh, Hyderabad, Sanghar, Thatta, Swat and Upper Dir.
The main objective of this programme is to decrease infant, child and maternal morbidity and mortality rate by reducing malnutrition and through qualitative health care services.
In Hyderabad, WFP will distribute a high protein blended food, fortified with multi-micro-nutrients to pregnant women and weaning age children in selected areas of Hala and Matiari.
Country representative of WFP, German Valdivia said that WFP will provide fortified vegetable oil and fortified blended food, as an incentive to promote positive health behaviours and increase the coverage to the target facilities.
He said that WFP and Unicef will work together to establish a nutrition forum, for the purpose of facilitating information-sharing between various organisations working in the area of nutrition.
Omar Abidi said Unicef would facilitate in communication and capacity building activities for multiple aspects of children survival and development including advocacy on health issues and neo-natal illnesses such as diarrhoea, malaria, ARI, measles and treatment of severe malnutrition.
He said that Unicef will be focused on EmONC (Emergency Obstetric and NewBorn Care) facilities and will also set up referral centres for basic health units (BHUs).
He said that six districts were targeted under Unicef's immunisation plus programme, focusing on improvement of capacity and vaccine supplies to WFP-assisted facilities.
Omar Abidi said that Unicef would provide inputs through its maternal and child health care (MCHC) programme to improve health facilities by providing adequate supplies and equipment for upgrading the health care services.