More than 5,000 healthcare providers and frontline health workers will benefit from the "NourishMaa Campaign" which aims to enhance their knowledge and skills in maternal nutrition and integrate nutrition counselling into their regular practice.
The campaign was launched by Nutrition International in collaboration with the Ministry of National Health Services Regulations and Coordination (MoNHSR&C) and the Sindh Health Department.
While speaking at the launch, Sindh Minister for Local Governments Nasir Hussain Shah emphasised the importance of women's health, nutrition, and well-being during preconception, pregnancy, and postpartum periods. He commended Nutrition International for initiating this campaign and assured the government's support for its successful implementation.
The latest National Nutrition Survey 2018 revealed alarming rates of macro and micronutrient deficiencies among women of reproductive age (WRA). Addressing these issues is crucial, and the NourishMaa Campaign aims to complement the Pakistan Maternal Nutrition Strategy 2022-27.
The campaign will leverage the role of HCPs, FHWs, key opinion leaders (KOLs), and other stakeholders to address maternal malnutrition in the country.
The campaign will be implemented in six districts of Pakistan, including Larkana, Qambar Shahdadkot, Karachi East, and Korangi. The primary objectives of the campaign include enhancing maternal nutrition knowledge among HCPs and FHWs, engaging HCPs in meaningful discussions, and increasing the knowledge and motivation of KOLs to advance maternal nutrition at the national and provincial levels.
NourishMaa National Campaign Manager for Dawar Adnan Sham stressed the importance of investing in maternal nutrition, as it is directly linked to the intergenerational cycle of malnutrition.
Nutrition International has been partnering with federal and provincial governments for over two decades to improve maternal nutrition indicators in the country. Through this campaign, they aim to mobilise healthcare professionals and improve nutrition counseling.
Sindh Health Services Additional Director General Dr Pir Ghulam Hussain expressed optimism that the NourishMaa campaign would enhance their knowledge and positively impact maternal health statistics.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 18th, 2023.
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