KARACHI: Balochistan’s government is planning to extend its nutrition program, which was launched in 2015, to all 34 administrative districts of the largest and poorest Pakistani province.
“The Balochistan Nutrition Program for Mothers and Children (BNPMC) has been implemented in seven districts,” program coordinator Dr. Ali Nasir Bugti told Arab News on Friday.
“However, the provincial administration has instructed us to prepare a feasibility report to make it work in the other 27 districts as well,” he said.
“We’ll soon present it to the provincial authorities to implement this successful program across Balochistan,” he added.
“Almost 52 percent of children in Balochistan are victims of stunted growth. About 16 percent face acute malnutrition, and 40 percent are underweight,” Bugti said.
“Similarly, 56.8 percent of children and 48.9 percent of mothers are iron-deficient, and 73.5 percent of children and 54.9 percent of women are vitamin A-deficient.”
The program is currently run via 175 feeding centers in seven districts, employing 1,500 well-trained nurses and health workers, 70 percent of whom are female, he added.
This high percentage empowers women by helping them provide financial support for their households, he said.
“Our female health workers distribute multiple micronutrient sachets, and share basic health tips with mothers,” Bugti added.
“Awareness is key. Its dearth, especially among mothers, is one of the causes of stunted growth.”
Malnutrition is a multifaceted problem that can only be resolved via a coordinated effort by relevant government departments, he said.
“The participation of the education department, for instance, is imperative since it can create awareness about these issues by integrating them in its curriculum,” he added. “With more awareness and financial support, we can bring an end to stunting.”
Balochistan to widen nutrition program
Balochistan to widen nutrition program
- The World Bank-sponsored nutrition program is currently underway in seven out of 34 districts of the province
- 52 percent children in Balochistan are victim of stunting, 16.1 percent are facing acute malnutrition, and 40 percent are underweight
India captain says will travel for Pakistan clash despite boycott
- Pakistan have announced they will boycott their match against India on Feb. 15 in Sri Lanka
- India need to be at the stadium on Feb. 15 to ensure they are awarded two points for match
MUMBAI: India captain Suryakumar Yadav said Thursday that his team would show up in Colombo for their T20 World Cup clash against Pakistan, despite their Group A opponents and arch-rivals boycotting the match.
“We haven’t said no to playing them (Pakistan),” Yadav told reporters at Mumbai’s Wankhede stadium, where India will begin their campaign against the United States on Saturday’s opening day.
“They are the ones who have said no. Our flights are booked and we are going to Colombo.”
India need to be at the stadium and ready to take the field for the February 15 match in order to make sure of being awarded the two points for a match forfeit.
The tournament, co-hosted by Sri Lanka and India, has been overshadowed by weeks of political posturing in the build-up.
Bangladesh were kicked out for refusing to play in India and Pakistan’s government then told its team not to show up at the clash of the arch-rivals as a show of support for Bangladesh.
Pakistan and India have not played bilateral cricket for more than a decade, and meet only in global or regional tournaments events.
India start the T20 World Cup on home soil with a great chance of retaining the title they won two years ago and Yadav agreed they were the side to beat.
“The way we have been playing, it looks like we are the favorites,” he smiled.
If that seemed like an overconfident statement, the India captain was quick to caution: “There are 19 (other) good teams in the tournament, though.
“On a given day, when you play, you have to bring your A-game and play good cricket.”
India know that their opening opponents, the United States, caused the biggest upset of the 2024 tournament when they beat Pakistan in a super over.
Yadav said no team would be taken lightly.
“I’m sure every game will be very important,” he said.
