PPHI Sindh promotes food security and nutrition


Food security and nutrition are basic human rights and fundamental to a healthy and productive life, yet hunger and malnutrition persist in developing countries. Pakistan is a country which faces massive food insecurity and malnutrition particularly in the rural areas. The 2017-18 PDHS revealed 38% of children in Pakistan are stunted (short for their age), 7% are wasted (thin for their height). Only 21% of children aged 6-23 months receive meals with the minimum recommended diversity (at least four food groups); 63% receive meals at the minimum frequency; but only 13% meet the criteria of a minimum acceptable diet. An increased number of malnourished babies are being born to malnourished mothers as a vicious cycle being carried on. There are however large provincial variations reported where Sindh shows the second highest rates on stunting and wasting after FATA, 50% and 47% respectively.

PPHI Sindh, for the first time, initiated kitchen gardens at health facilities to improve food security in Sindh to create awareness about kitchen gardens and their benefits.

Currently, these kitchen gardens are being run in few Talukas in Tando Allah Yar, in BHU Plus Dhingano Bozdar, Sanjar Chang, Naseer Khan Leghari and Ditto Kalro and produce vegetables such as spinach (palak), cauliflower(gobi), mustard leaves (saag), coriander (dhania), green chilis (hari mirch) and fruits like Naseberry (chakku), ziziphus Maritain (bair), Jambul (jammu), guava (zaitoon). The vegetables are harvested and utilized by the gardener and other staff at the primary health care facility such as Aya and midwife.

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