Mother and Child Nutrition Week kicks off in Punjab

LAHORE: A Punjab wide nutrition awareness drive ‘Mother and Child Health and Nutrition Week’ formally kicked off from Lahore on Monday, ARY News reported.

Punjab Health Minister Dr. Yasmin Rashid inaugurated the drive at a slum in the subarban area of provincial capital and fed dose of vitamins to a number of kids.

Under the Mother and Child Health and Nutrition Program (IRMNCH & NP), teams are expected to reach more than 10 million children, minor girls and one million pregnant women in a door to door campaign.

“It is not simply an awareness drive but a chance to collect data about malnutrition in Punjab” the minister said while talking to journalists.

The minister directed all concerned to work with missionary zeal to achieve the target of healthy Pakistan.

“Stunting is the mother of all diseases. From today to October 6, ealth teams would collect details of children suffering from malnutrition if a child is found stunted he would immediately be referred to a specialist doctor who would check him and free of cost and multi-minerals would be fed to the kid,” said Dr Yasmin Rashid.

While sharing details of the “nutrition drive” she categorically emphasized on breast feeding.

“As a doctor let me clear that nothing is suitable for an infant than his or her mother’s own milk. You should avoid feeding children water till the age of six months” she advised the womenfolk

Project Director IRMNCH & NP) Dr. Syed Mukhtar Hussain Shah and DG Health Dr. Munir Ahmed briefed the minister about features of “Nutrition Week”. “

The minister expressed her satisfaction over arrangements made by Health Department and directed to implement the plan in letter and spirit.

“World Health Assembly have endorsed global targets and we are committed to reduce stunting by 40 percent in children under five between 2010 and 2025, so we must look forward to achieve the goals set by international community” the minister concluded.