Islamabad, Pakistan – The World Bank will release $47.95 million funding for Pakistan to address malnutrition and nutrition status of the country’s children younger than two years old, plus women who are pregnant and lactating in targeted areas.
The World Bank stated that their goal is to enhance the nutrition of mothers and children, especially because urgent care clinics in many provinces in the country are facing many challenges when it comes to malnutrition. An average of 50% of children five years old and younger in Baluchistan and in Sindh is malnourished and these figures have worsened since 2001. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 48% of children are also malnourished, while in Punjab 39% of children lack nutrition.
Though this project initially focuses on Balochistan and Sindh, its general goal is to further enhance national nutritional coverage through the support and coordination between development partners of Pakistan. Director Rachid Benmessaoud, from Pakistan’s World Bank stated that children under 5 are worse when it comes to nutrition. To address malnutrition the project aims to help Balochistan and Sindh to focus on improving urgent care capacity with the Departments of Health of every province. This is to deliver nutritional services to address current malnutrition of children.
Though maternal and child indicators of health have generally improved in Pakistan, many citizens are still asking if urgent care near me are really capable of addressing their nutrition needs. The initial findings of the National Nutrition Survey last 2011 revealed that since 1965 no major improvement was recorded in the country’s nutrition. Rachid Benmessaoud also added that the initial 1000 days in addressing malnutrition are critical because this is when most damage can be incurred to brain development, physical growth, and the formation of human capital. He also said that it is important to address malnutrition early because inadequate nutrition during these stages of growth can have great effects that are often irreversible.
The World Bank’s aim to provide financial support on every urgent care clinic of the country consists of funding from the International Development Association amounting to $36.24 million for Sindh and also a Grant provided by a Trust Fund for the Pakistan Partnership for Improved Nutrition that is financed by Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade through the World Bank amounting to $11.71 million for Balochistan. Director Rachid Benmessaoud emphasized that the World Bank’s decision to address malnutrition is very timely and crucial to improve the overall nutrition of the country.
