Peshawar, Health Minister Syed Qasim Ali Shah has officially launched the Naresh Maa Campaign, a new initiative aimed at improving the nutritional health of childbearing mothers in the districts of DI Khan, Mardan, and Butgram. The campaign, announced at an inaugural event, focuses on addressing malnutrition among pregnant women, a critical step towards ensuring the health of both mothers and their future children.

According to Directorate General Information and PRs – Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Naresh Maa Campaign represents a collaborative effort between the Nutrition Cell of the Directorate General Health Services and Nutrition International. Health Minister Shah, speaking to media after the inauguration, emphasized the importance of the campaign in meeting the essential nutritional needs of pregnant women, noting the alarming statistics of maternal malnutrition, including underweight and anemia rates.

The event gathered health officials and experts, including Director General Health Services Dr. Muhammad Saleem and Director Nutrition Dr. Fazal Majeed, who highlighted the campaign’s strategies. These include enhancing the capabilities of healthcare professionals in maternal and child care and utilizing various media platforms to raise public awareness about the importance of maternal nutrition.

Dr. Majeed also pointed out the role of the media and healthcare communities in promoting the critical message of good nutrition for expectant mothers, marking a significant step towards reducing the incidence of stunting and wasting among children in the region.