Karachi, In a significant stride toward improving child health, the Sindh government has reaffirmed its commitment to eradicating all forms of malnutrition, including stunting, with a multi-sectoral strategy. This announcement was made by Syed Murad Ali Shah, Chief Minister of Sindh, during a workshop titled “Multi-Sectoral Strategy on Stunting and Malnutrition in Sindh,” which was organized by the Department of Planning and Development in collaboration with the World Bank.
According to Chief Minister Sindh, the Sindh government, since 2017 with the support of the World Bank, has adopted a holistic approach involving sectors like livestock, fisheries, agriculture, and health to tackle malnutrition. This plan was especially emphasized following the catastrophic floods in 2022, which severely impacted the region, exacerbating the malnutrition crisis. The Chief Minister highlighted the need for intensified efforts and enhanced mechanisms to effectively address these challenges, driven by a multi-sectoral task force set up by the Planning and Development Department.
The workshop also served as a platform to review the current situation of malnutrition and stunting in Sindh post the 2022 floods, with the aim to devise robust strategies for improvement. Additionally, the Chief Minister underscored the direct correlation between poverty, social security, and child stunting and outlined government initiatives like the ‘1000 Days’ health plan to provide essential nutrition to pregnant and lactating women. He also called for enhanced collaboration and coordination among various sectors to effectively combat stunting and malnutrition in the near future.