USAID, health department join hands to fight malnutrition

KARACHI: A partnership agreement was signed between the United States Agency for International Development's (USAID) Sindh Community Mobilisation Programme (CMP) and the health department of the Government of Sindh for the support of nutritional activities for children from five to nine years of age in CMP schools running in seven northern districts of Sindh and five towns of Karachi.

USAID Deputy Mission Director Denise A Herbol, Health Secretary Dr Fazlullah Pechuho and Education Secretary Abdul Aziz Uqaili were present on the occasion.

"Education plays a vital role in improving children's health and nutrition," said Herbol. "We believe [that] a comprehensive strategy is required to address issues related to malnutrition, especially among children [affected from malnutrition] in Sindh," she added.



It was informed in the event that as part of the USAID-funded Sindh Basic Education Programme (SBEP), the CMP aims to link health and education in its schools in partnership with the Sindh schools education department. The CMP also screens children and creates awareness in parents regarding benefits of improved nutrition.

The health secretary and education secretary called for the need of joint efforts to fight malnutrition in Sindh. The issue of malnutrition persists in Sindh but the situation is severe in districts that were affected by floods in 2010.