Karachi, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah announced the successful disbursement of Rs163.584 million under the Mother and Child Support Programme (MCSP), a key initiative of the Social Protection Delivery System aimed at bolstering maternal and child health. This financial support targets pregnant and lactating mothers, facilitating their access to essential healthcare services across the province’s 15 poorest districts.

According to Chief Minister of Sindh, the MCSP, backed by a budget of $201.85 million, is designed to reinforce the healthcare system for mothers and children under two years old by providing conditional cash transfers. This approach is intended to enhance the uptake of maternal, newborn, and child healthcare (MNCH) services over a crucial 1,000-day period, starting from conception and spanning the first two years of a child’s life. The program aligns with the Strengthening Social Protection Delivery System in Sindh (SSPDS), a collaborative effort with the International Development Association (IDA), featuring a combined project cost of $230 million.

The program’s framework, as discussed in a meeting at the CM House, emphasizes the integration of social protection and health services, aiming to reach about 1.3 million beneficiaries over five years. This effort involves comprehensive care through identified touchpoints, including antenatal care, safe delivery, postnatal check-ups, and child growth and immunization monitoring.

The chosen districts for this initiative are based on the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), ensuring that the most vulnerable populations, specifically in Umerkot, Tharparkar, and other economically challenged areas, receive targeted support.

The MCSP, initially piloted in Umerkot and Tharparkar, has been recognized for its potential to significantly improve health service engagement among poor rural households, marking a strategic move to prioritize maternal and child health through innovative financing and service delivery mechanisms.