EU, WFP Join Hands to Strengthen Sindh’s Health System
— December 4, 2024
ISLAMABAD (AIA) The European Union (EU) and the World Food Programme (WFP) are collaborating to enhance Sindh’s health system, focusing on combating malnutrition through sustainable solutions. This partnership employs the Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) Surge approach to equip local health centres with the capacity to manage acute malnutrition independently.
The initiative is particularly impactful in Sindh’s Tharparkar district, where malnutrition is exacerbated by poverty, food insecurity, and seasonal droughts. Rolled out in 12 health centres in Chachro, the project enables health workers to anticipate, prepare for, and manage spikes in malnutrition without overstretching existing resources.
“Frequent climate shocks in Sindh worsen malnutrition. Building local capacity is crucial to managing surges effectively,” said Taheeni Thammannagoda, the EU’s humanitarian aid representative in Pakistan. WFP Country Director Coco Ushiyama added, “Our partnership with the Government of Sindh demonstrates that this cost-effective model can be scaled to other districts.”
The CMAM Surge approach follows eight steps, starting with a situational analysis to identify malnutrition triggers, such as seasonal trends and health challenges. Health workers are trained to analyse data, manage case surges, and ensure the timely delivery of nutrition supplies. A real-time e-dashboard helps provincial and district health authorities track data, detect cases early, and facilitate timely referrals.
The approach was first piloted in 30 health centres in Umerkot in 2021, yielding encouraging results. Inspired by its success, the Sindh government plans to expand the program to other vulnerable districts, starting with Jamshoro.
This EU-WFP collaboration aims to create self-reliant health systems capable of responding to malnutrition crises, ensuring better health outcomes across Sindh.
Karachi
Recent News
Dense Fog, Dry Weather Forecast Across SindhJanuary 4, 2025
PU Awards Ten PhDs Across Diverse FieldsJanuary 4, 2025
PEC Introduces YENF to Prepare Engineers for Global OpportunitiesJanuary 4, 2025
AIOU Leads Effort to Preserve Endangered Languages with Lexicography WorkshopJanuary 4, 2025