Contingency plan to deal with arrival of Afghan refugees

Health Department has formulated a contingency plan in view of the expected arrival of about 800,000 refugees

QUETTA:

Balochistan Parliamentary Secretary for Health Dr Rubaba Khan Buledi on Wednesday said the Health Department had formulated a contingency plan in view of the expected arrival of Afghan refugees in Balochistan.

She expressed these views while addressing a seminar in connection with the inaugural function of the “Nutrition Response Project for Covid- 19 and Diarrhea-affected Children under five years” organised by the Balochistan Rural Support Programme (BRSP) and Government of Balochistan. "The Balochistan Health Department has formulated a contingency plan in view of the expected arrival of about 800,000 Afghan refugees,” Dr Buledi said.

The parliamentary health secretary added that the problem of malnutrition among children and mothers were very serious and a nutrition emergency had been imposed in Balochistan from 2019.

"Pakistan's first Nutrition Directorate has been set up in Quetta to bring all the nutrition programmes under one roof," she underlined, adding that all available resources were being utilised as only a healthy mother and a healthy child were the guarantors of a bright future.

BRSP launched a nutrition programme for children suffering from Covid-19 in five districts of the province which was a positive step.

Dr Buledi further said the BRSP and the Balochistan Health Department would further improve the process of mutual consultation and coordination to make nutrition-related initiatives fruitful.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 2^nd, 2021.