Sindh taking measures to eliminate stunting, says Murad

karachi: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has affirmed his government's commitment to taking concerted action for eradicating all forms of malnutrition, including stunting, in order to secure the future of the children of the province.

He addressed the issue of malnutrition at a workshop titled ‘Multi-sectoral Convergence Strategy on Stunting & Malnutrition in Sindh’ organised by the planning and development department in collaboration with the World Bank (WB) at a local hotel.

The event was attended by Planning and Development Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, WB Country Director Najy Benhassine, World Bank Regional Director Nicole Klingen and others.

Murad maintained that his government was dedicated to reducing the current stunting rate in the province. Upon assuming office as the chief minister, he said, he initiated an accelerated action plan to address stunting.

In 2017 with the assistance from the WB, the Sindh government adopted a multi-sectoral approach to reduce stunting and other forms of malnutrition, he said.

“This approach included nutrition-sensitive sectors such as livestock, fisheries and agriculture. Several health facilities now have outpatient therapeutic programme (OTP) sites specifically designed for malnourished children,” the CM remarked.

He added that livestock was distributed among vulnerable communities, particularly households with pregnant and lactating women. “The Sindh government and its development partners have made every effort to address this crucial issue effectively,” Murad claimed.

The CM highlighted that the unprecedented floods in Sindh in 2022 affected every sector of society, including education, health, agriculture and livestock. Large areas of land were under water for many weeks and despite limited resources, the Sindh government prioritised saving lives and providing shelter, he said.

He mentioned that 20,000 schools were either partially or fully damaged, and hundreds of health facilities were submerged but the government stood by the people during this challenging time.

Murad said poverty, income and social protection directly impacted stunting in children under five years. The Sindh government had established a dedicated department for social protection and with the WB’s assistance, it had launched a social protection strategy unit that enabled direct cash transfers to beneficiaries, he added.

The CM explained that the Sindh government had initiated a health project called '1,000 Days' to provide adequate nutrition to pregnant and lactating women, reducing the likelihood of malnutrition in newborns. However, he added, these programmes required broader coverage and intensity to meet community needs.

Despite a dedicated task force established at the planning and development department, tackling malnutrition required engaging all sectors and converging efforts at one platform, Murad remarked.

He emphasised the need for technical assistance from the WB and other development partners to build the capacity of related departments to combat the multi-dimensional causes of stunting. "I have heard domain experts often quote that if you invest one dollar in a stunted child, he will return 16 dollars as an adult," he said.

The CM thanked the World Bank and planning and development department for arranging the workshop, which brought together relevant sectors including health, agriculture, livestock, fisheries, social protection and education for creating awareness about stunting. "All these sectors must move beyond conventional approaches and converge efforts and resources in districts to accelerate stunting reduction," he concluded.

The planning and development minister welcomed the guests, particularly the WB country director and his team, for their participation and input in the workshop.

He mentioned that the Sindh government, with assistance from the WB, had initiated efforts to reduce stunting in 2017 and established a multi-sectoral task force to continue the fight.

Nasir said that the workshop would enhance understanding of malnutrition and stunting in Sindh, especially after the 2022 floods, and enable exploration of new strategies to address the issue more effectively.