Islamabad: In a significant step towards addressing malnutrition in Pakistan, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) signed a memorandum of understanding on September 24. This collaboration aims to manage 169 nutrition stabilization centers across the country and implement strategies to significantly enhance child nutrition and reduce stunting rates.

According to World Health Organization announcement issued on 25 September 2024, the agreement was formalized at the BISP headquarters in Islamabad, with key figures such as BISP Chairperson Rubina Khalid, BISP Secretary Amer Ali Ahmed, and WHO Representative Dr. Luo Dapeng in attendance. The partnership focuses on delivering evidence-based interventions, including providing life-saving treatment to over 75,000 severely acutely malnourished children with medical complications and promoting breastfeeding to prevent stunting.

During the signing ceremony, BISP’s chairperson emphasized the critical support from WHO in extending lifesaving medical interventions to the program’s beneficiaries, highlighting a united effort towards fostering a healthier Pakistan. Dr. Dapeng also addressed the broader impacts of stunting on physical and cognitive development and reaffirmed WHO’s commitment to preventing this condition.

The project, which spans 20 months and is valued at US$ 6.25 million, is designed to improve the nutritional status and overall well-being of malnourished children across Pakistan, marking a proactive step in the country’s ongoing health initiatives.