PESHAWAR, Dec 22 (APP):The Nutrition International (NI) in collaboration with federal and provincial health departments through its implementing partner Prime Foundation (PF) launched the “Iron Folic Acid (IFA) Supplementation for addressing Maternal Anemia in Pakistan” project under the COVID-19 Emergency response project in seven merged tribal districts.
Chairperson, Health Standing Committee of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Rabia Basri
was the chief guest of the launching ceremony, whereas Dr. Ikram Ullah Khan, chief Health Services Reform Unit, KP, Dr. Shabina Raza, Country Director NI Pakistan, Representatives from UN agencies, provincial and district health departments were also present at the occasion and shared their views and appreciated the efforts of NI and their partners.
She thanked the department of health and Nutrition International to extend their support to newly merged districts on a very pertinent issue of the country.
She assured the support of the government in all spirits to improve the nutrition situation in the province, especially newly merged districts.
Dr. Shabina Raza shared the event objective that the COVID emergency support grant is being offered by the Government of Canada to address maternal anemia in the newly merged districts with the provision of IFA Commodities, safe delivery kits, and capacity building package to improve the situation of maternal nutrition.
It is worth mentioning that this 18-months project aims at addressing maternal anemia through the provision of Iron Folic Acid (IFA) supplements for 78,000 pregnant women, improving safe motherhood by providing 11,000 safe delivery kits (SDKs) to health care facilities in newly merged tribal districts including Khyber, Bajaur, Mohmand, Orakzai, Kurram, South Waziristan and North Waziristan.
Under the project, thousands of personal protective gears will also be provided to health care professionals and frontline health workers.
Moreover, the project will facilitate government to build capacities of frontline health workers and healthcare providers of newly merged districts on infection prevention and control and improving their interpersonal communication (IPC) skills using MNCH & IYCN focused IPC training manual.
The project districts have been prioritized on the basis of evidence that was furnished by the national nutrition survey 2018.
According to National Nutrition Survey 2018, in the region, one in eight adolescent girls is underweight, while an alarming 56.6% are anemic, Early marriages, closely spaced pregnancies, and maternal malnutrition lead to high morbidity and high mortality.
In the end, Dr. Muhammad Niaz director of general health services Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Dr. Shabina Raza, Country Director NI Pakistan signed an MoU for smooth implementation of the said project.
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