QUETTA: The Balochistan government and Unicef have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to procure nutrition related supplies worth more than $844,000 to support the provincial nutrition programme for mothers and children.

The MoU was signed by Anjela Kearney, country representative of Unicef Pakistan, and Additional Secretary Health Abdullah Khan at a ceremony held here on Saturday.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms Kearney said the status of malnutrition in Balochistan was alarming and the agreement would go a long way in improving the overall health status of people in Balochistan. It would improve nutrition of mothers and children in the first step in seven districts of the province, she added.

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“The MoU for the procurement of nutrition related supplies is a major step forward in our commitment to help the government of Balochistan in providing improved services to people in the areas of health, education and sanitation,” she said.

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Ms Kearney said under the MoU seven districts of Balochistan, including Panjgur, Kohlu, Sibi, Qila Saifullah, Zhob and Kharan, would be supported through the community management of acute Malnutrition and the Outpatient Therapeutic Programme.

These seven districts, she added, were the most food insecure. “We are also supporting eight other districts in Balochistan under the Canadian-funded polio Plus Programme,” she added.

Ms Kearney said procurement services had been initiated in close collaboration with the World Bank and the provincial government and MoUs were being signed for procurement of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), F-75 and F-100 and providing support for capacity building on the supply chain management.

The additional secretary lauded the services of Unicef in health, education and other sectors. He said the health department would make all possible efforts for the successful implementation of the MoU.

He appreciated efforts of Ms Kearney, Secretary Health Noorul Haq Baloch, provincial coordinator of Nutrition Programme Dr Nasir Bugti, and Dr Mustafa for making the signing of the MoU a reality.

Published in Dawn, August 24th, 2015

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