ISLAMABAD: A programme review workshop of Ehsaas Nashonuma was held in Islamabad. Senator Dr Sania Nishtar chaired the workshop. The workshop took stock of the programme progress, successes and lessons learnt across 14 districts to upscale it nationwide.
"The federal government plans to scale-up Ehsaas Nashonuma to overcome common health problems like stunting, underweight and overweight in children under two years of age, especially in underprivileged areas of the country," remarked Dr Sania.
Dr Sania highlighted the importance of the review, mentioning that the Government is planning to now expand the programme. She also remarked that Ehsaas Nashonuma continues to be an evidence-driven programme.
Reflecting on field experiences in the workshop, it was discussed that with the completion of Ehsaas Survey, the turn out under Nashonuma has increased, especially after new survey data since May 2021. Khyber district has crossed its initial targets standalone and registered more than 10,000 beneficiaries. Also, increased immunization, service-based deliveries, health care facilities reported that this programme helped them to reach their immunization and health targets.
Keeping in view the difficult terrains across Balochistan, KP, GB and AJK, Ehsaas also looked into the possibility of introducing mobile Ehsaas Nashonuma Centres in terms of the way forward.
Ehsaas Nashonuma programme is now operational through 50 Nashonuma facilitation centers in 14 most stunted districts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Punjab and administrative unit Islamabad. Currently, 63,420 pregnant and lactating women and children under two years of age have been enrolled in the programme with a weekly increase of 2,741 beneficiaries in the last week.
Representatives from the field teams of Ehsaas Nashonuma in Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, KP, GB and AJK participated in the workshop along with experts from the World Food Programme (WFP) and Ehsaas team. Chris Kaye, Country Director of WFP and Naveed Akbar, DG-Ehsaas Conditional Cash Transfers also joined the event.-PR
Copyright Business Recorder, 2021