WFP, Balochistan to assist over 100,000 malnourished children, women

ISLAMABAD: The World Food Programme (WFP) and Balochistan government jointly launched a project to assist around 108,271 malnourished children, pregnant and lactating women suffering to prevent stunting and micronutrient deficiencies.

The project would be implemented with collaboration of Balochistan Department of Health from 2013 to 2015 in nine districts of Balochistan including Zhob, Musakhel, Lora Lai, Qilla Saifullah, Pishin, Nushki, Kharan, Washuk, Chagai by providing them food supplements through Lady Health Workers (LHWs).

It would also prevent their intergenerational transmission using locally produced specialized nutritious products and promoting appropriate infant and young child feeding practices utilising effective behaviour change communication strategies.

Balochistan is the second most affected province, where only 36.5 percent of the population were food secure. About 33.9 percent people were food insecure without hunger, Nicole Carn, World Food Programme (WFP) Chief in Balochistan told APP. In response to the nutrition situation in Balochistan, WFP has been assisting the Health Department of Balochistan to address the issue of malnutrition through Community Based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM), she added.

This will also contribute to reducing the incidence of low birth weight as maternal nutritional status of pregnant and lactating women will be improved. Out of 32 districts in Balochistan, there are nine districts where Balochistan Nutrition Cell, along with WFP was working to address the issue of malnutrition.

Help offered to Sindh to assist people of Thar: Bosan

MULTAN: Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Sikandar Hayat Bosan said on Friday that the federal government had contacted Sindh to offer help for the poor people of Thar facing food and water shortage problem.
Talking to media persons at the local circuit house, he said that the federal government and Sindh have ample stocks of wheat, however, centre can provide food to the Sindh province for people of Thar if they sought our help.
To a question, he said that a summary has been sent to the Prime Minister for procurement of wheat this year hoping that the procurement target for current year would exceed the previous year figure.
Responding to another question, Bosan said that the summary sent to the PM also covers the issue of wheat support price, however, added that in his personal opinion, wheat should be procured at Rs 1,200 per maund.