Govt committed to eliminate malnutrition, stunting: CM

Says poverty, low income, lack of social protection are main causes of stunting in children

KARACHI:

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that his government is committed to eradicate malnutrition to safeguard the future of children.

He was speaking at a workshop on 'Multi-sectoral convergence strategy on stunting & malnutrition in Sindh', organised by the Planning & Development Department in collaboration with the World Bank at a local hotel.

The event was attended by Minister P&D Syed Nasir Shah, Minister Health Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, World Bank officials including Country Director Najy Benhassine, Regional Director Mrs. Nicole Klingen, and others.

Shah mentioned that when he assumed the office of Chief Minister, he initiated an accelerated action plan to reduce stunting. In 2017, with the WB assistance, Sindh adopted a multi-sectoral approach to reduce stunting and other forms of malnutrition.

The nutrition-sensitive sectors such as livestock, fisheries, and agriculture were included in the programme. Several health facilities now have Outpatient Therapeutic Programme (OTP) sites that are specifically designed for malnourished children. Additionally, livestock was distributed to vulnerable communities, particularly households with pregnant and lactating women.

Shah stated that poverty, low income, and lack of social protection are the main causes of stunting in children under five years of age. The Sindh government has established a dedicated department for social protection and, with the assistance of the World Bank, has launched a social protection strategy unit that includes direct cash transfers to beneficiaries.

Additionally, the government has initiated a health project called `1,000 Days' to provide adequate nutrition to pregnant and lactating women, reducing the likelihood of malnutrition in newborns. However, these programmes require further coverage and intensity to meet the needs of the community.

Shah said, "My government has unshakable determination to tackle this issue by engaging all sectors and converging them at one platform."

He further mentioned, "I have heard the domain experts often quoting as if you invest one dollar in a stunted child, he will return 16 dollars as an adult."

Minister P&D Syed Nasir Shah said, "Given the gravity of the situation and the enormity of the crisis, the provincial government was in dire need of multiplying efforts and upscaling our current mechanism to fight it."

Nasir Shah said that the workshop would enhance understanding of the situation of malnutrition and stunting in Sindh and will be able to explore new vistas to fight it better than before.

World Bank Country Director Najy Benhassine, Regional Director Mrs. Nicole Klingen, and others also spoke on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 4^th, 2024.