Shahbaz Sharif's Child Nutrition, Stunting Reduction Programme launched

The 'Khadim-e-Punjab Child Nutrition and Stunting Reduction Program' has been approved at the maiden meeting of the provincial steering committee on Monday with Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in the chair.
In the first phase, the program would be launched in 11 districts of the South Punjab and later the program would be expanded to other districts.
It may be noted that the Punjab MICS 2014 survey shows that every third child in Punjab suffers from chronic malnutrition (stunting). While stunting has shown a downward province-wide trend since 2007, this masks serious problems in some districts. In Dera Ghazi Khan, the worst effected district, however, the rate of stunting is as high as 50.9 percent.
Addressing the meeting, Shehbaz Sharif said the program was very vital for the mother and child health and an effective mechanism had been evolved for the implementation of the program. He said all-out resources would be ensured for the mother and child health.
He said immediate steps would be taken to resolve the issue of stunting reduction and conventional thinking and attitudes would have to be changed in this regard. He said all departments should act in close co-ordination and effective awareness campaign should be launched.
The member health and planning, P&D gave briefing on the program. Provincial minister Malik Nadeem Kamran, Begum Zakia Shahnawaz, Khawaja Salman Rafique, Syed Haroon Sultan Bokhari, Khwaja Imran Nazeer, the chairman Planning and Development, and secretaries of the concerning departments were also present on the occasion.