Vitamin Worldwide, Federal, and Punjab Governments Launch NourishMaa Marketing campaign to Enhance Maternal Vitamin within the Province.
Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Over 5,000 healthcare suppliers and frontline well being employees shall be reached by the marketing campaign to complement their data of, and capacities round, maternal vitamin and integrating vitamin counseling into their day-to-day practices.
LAHORE, June 02, 2023: Vitamin Worldwide joined palms with the Ministry of Nationwide Well being Companies Rules and Coordination (MoNHSR&C) and Punjab Well being Division to launch a marketing campaign – NourishMaa. This collaborative effort goals to advertise maternal vitamin within the province by enhancing the data and abilities of healthcare suppliers (HCPs) and frontline well being employees (FHWs) in two chosen districts of Punjab.
“Maternal malnutrition’s affect extends throughout generations, making it essential for Pakistan to urgently deal with this situation,” emphasised Ali Jan Khan, Secretary of the Major and Secondary Well being Division (P&SHD) within the Authorities of Punjab. Dr. Ali praised the NourishMaa Marketing campaign for its collaborative efforts, forming invaluable partnerships with the Division of Well being {and professional} medical associations to succeed in private and non-private healthcare suppliers. The marketing campaign’s modern use of mainstream and social media holds promise in attaining important enhancements in maternal vitamin throughout the nation.
The most recent Nationwide Vitamin Survey 2018 (NNS-2018) signifies that the macronutrient and micronutrient deficiencies are alarming amongst ladies of reproductive age (WRA, 15-49 years). 14.4% are underweight, 24% are chubby and 13.8% are overweight. There’s a very excessive prevalence of anemia (42%) on this age group. Equally, the dietary standing of adolescent women (10-19 years) can also be worrisome. The NNS-2018 highlighted that one in eight adolescent women in Pakistan have been underweight, whereas greater than 55% suffered from anemia. The excessive price of malnutrition amongst WRA in addition to adolescent women, mixed with underlying issues rising from early marriages, intently spaced pregnancies, and maternal malnutrition irritate a vicious cycle of excessive morbidity and mortality, resulting in antagonistic maternal and youngster well being outcomes. The NourishMaa marketing campaign initiated to enrich the Pakistan Maternal Vitamin Technique 2022-27, goals to assist deal with these points by leveraging the vital function of HCPs and FHWs.
The NourishMaa Marketing campaign goals to extend consciousness in regards to the significance of maternal vitamin and improve the capacities of private and non-private sector well being employees, key opinion leaders (KOLs), and different stakeholders to advance maternal vitamin interventions in Pakistan. Vitamin Worldwide is implementing this marketing campaign with the shut collaboration and help of MoNHSR&C, the provincial well being departments, the Skilled Medical Affiliation, and the Society of Obstetrics and Gynaecologist in six districts of Pakistan together with two in Punjab; Rawalpindi, and Bahawalpur whereas 4 districts are focused in Sindh. The marketing campaign targets to attain some particular outcomes together with improved data amongst HCPs and FHWs on maternal vitamin, efficient engagement of key HCPs on maternal vitamin, and improved data and motivation amongst KOLs for accelerating motion in the direction of enhancing maternal vitamin on the nationwide and provincial ranges.
Talking on the event, Asim Shahzad Qureshi, Nationwide Program Supervisor, Maternal New child Well being and Vitamin, Vitamin Worldwide harassed the essential function of HCPs and FHWs in bettering maternal vitamin, particularly by improved vitamin counseling. “Over the previous 20 years, Vitamin Worldwide has efficiently labored in partnership with the Authorities of Pakistan on varied packages to enhance the well being and vitamin standing of the nation’s ladies, adolescent women, and kids”, he added. The NourishMaa Marketing campaign displays our international dedication to bettering the well being and vitamin of individuals in want, particularly ladies and kids. Although the NourishMaa marketing campaign concentrating on a couple of districts of Pakistan, it has the potential to scale up nationwide and assist break the cycle of malnutrition by bettering the maternal and youngster well being outcomes within the nation.”
Representing the MoNHSR&C, Dr. Khawaja Masuood Ahmed, Nationwide Coordinator Vitamin and Nationwide Fortification Alliance stated that.
Dr. Muhammad Ilyas, Director of Common Well being, Punjab, revealed that out of roughly 250,000 medical professionals and 150,000 outreach employees within the nation, the bulk haven’t acquired formal coaching on maternal vitamin. Recognizing the importance of the marketing campaign, Dr. Ilyas emphasised that the NourishMaa initiative’s give attention to creating fashions and channels to boost healthcare suppliers’ data and capacities will undoubtedly contribute to bettering maternal vitamin indicators nationwide. .
An anthem for the NourishMaa marketing campaign was featured on the launch occasion to advertise and unfold consciousness of the marketing campaign amongst stakeholders. The 2-year marketing campaign will use a number of approachses and channels for enhancing the data, capability, and motivation of HCPs, FHWs and KOLs together with interpersonal communication and focused media outreach; social media campaigns, speak reveals, marketing campaign ambassadors, seminars, trainings, conferences, and conferences on the provincial and district ranges.
The NourishMaa marketing campaign launch witnessed the presence of over 100 attendees, together with esteemed people equivalent to Dr. Muhammad Khalil Ahmed, Program Director IRMNCH&NP, Well being Division Punjab, Ms. Uzma Hafeez Chief Well being, P&DD, Punjab, Prof. Dr. Ashraf Nizami, President, PMA Lahore, Council Member & World Medical Affiliation (WMA), Prof. Dr. Arshad Chohan, Vice President, SOGP, and Dr. Farhana Shahid, Nation advisor for Vitamin, Invoice & Melinda Gates Basis.