Turning policy into action, 48 Ehsaas Nashonuma Centres are being established across 13 districts countrywide at the district and tehsil level to combat stunted growth.
According to the government plan, the establishment of 48 Ehsaas Nashonuma Centers in 13 districts of the country will ensure the provision of health services and conditional cash transfers mainly to prevent children from stunting growth issues under one roof.
This decision was taken on Monday at a meeting of the Ehsaas Nashonuma (nutrition) Steering Committee presided over by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation Dr. Sania Nishtar.
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The establishment of the many nutrition centers under the Ehsaas programme is meant to overcome common health problems like stunting, underweight and overweight in children under five years of age, especially in under-developed and poor areas of the country.
The meeting was informed that the programme was being carried out in partnership with the World Food Programme and provincial governments. The meeting participants further discussed issues related to coordination between the parties which will implement the programme. Also discussed the ways to effectively address the issue of undergrowth and malnutrition in the country.
The committee further discussed coordination of nutrition specific programmes at the federal level to ensure cross-country, cross-ministerial, inter-sectoral and inter-provincial collaboration for prevention of stunting and malnutrition among children.
The meeting was informed that Ehsaas Nashonuma is a 3-year programme that provides conditional cash transfers to vulnerable pregnant women and mothers with children under 5 years, linked to the consumption of specialized nutritious food, immunizations, and attendance of health awareness sessions.
Representatives from the federal and provincial ministries, Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, World Bank, World Food Programme, World Health Organisation, Asian Development Bank and Unicef attended the meeting.
