CM Sindh meets with World Bank delegation to discuss Child Stunting and Required Interventions
The Chief Minister Sindh, Syed Murad Ali Shah met with a delegation of the World Bank led by its Country Director, Mr. Najy Benhassihne, where the focus was on addressing critical environmental drivers of stunting in the province. The meeting, also attended by the CEO PPHI Sindh, Mr. Javed Ali Jagirani and other key stakeholders, underscored the importance of water, sanitation, hygiene, and the agri-food system in combating child stunting. CM Mr. Murad Ali Shah highlighted that significant interventions were being carried out through Annual Development Program (ADP) schemes and ongoing World Bank projects. The Sindh government, with the support of the World Bank, aims to reduce the stunting rate from 48 percent, as recorded in the 2014 UNICEF survey, to 15 percent by 2026. PPHI Sindh, in collaboration with the health department, plays a vital role in these initiatives, particularly in Health and Nutrition. Discussing the Population, Health and Nutrition- related drivers of Stunting the chief minister decided to strengthen access to and quality of basic preventive/curative healthcare and improve practices related to childcare and feeding. He also decided to further strengthen the ongoing nutritional supplementation only for short-term high-risk situations. Discussing the intervention, Murad Shah said that the Outpatient Therapeutic (OPT) Sites and Nutrition Stabilization Centers (NSC) have been established in 23 districts. He added that the treatment of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) cases at Outpatient Therapeutic Sites (OTP) and Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) with Medical Complications at Nutrition Stabilization Centers (NSC) was being carried out. The patients are provided nutrition commodities (RUFT, MNP, F-75, F-100) and medicines (IFA tabs, Parenteral Iron, Deworm Tabs) to children, Adolescents and Pregnant & Lactating Women (PLWs). Capacity-building training for community-based management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) and Infant young and Child Feeding (IYCF) was being made.