THATTA: A pilot project to tackle the problem of stunting in Thatta district was formally launched by the World Food Programme (WFP) and its partners here on Thursday.

To benefit 3,45,000 mothers and children over the course of two years, the project is aimed at reducing stunting by establishing best practices and generating new evidence to fight the deficiency. It will be implemented in 29 union councils of the district.

In this regard, a collaborative delegate comprising World Food Programme Country Director Lola Castro, Sindh WFP Head Marit Fikke, Sindh USAID Regional Director Mr Waskin, Health Director General Dr Ashfaq Memon, Provincial Nutrition Focal Person Dr Dureshehwar, DHO (health) Dr Zahoor Memon and senior deputy mission director of USAID Nanysets visited the Health House in the village of Nareja at Makli.

Lola Castro said stunting had grave implications on a child’s ability to perform in school, which led to reducing child’s learning potential during the adulthood.

The new programme aims at addressing stunting by focusing on multi-sartorial core nutrition interventions that include complementary feeding, management of acute malnutrition and safe hygiene practices.

Dr Ashfaque Ahmed said malnutrition status was highly alarming in Sindh, adding that the provincial government was working to overcome food insecurity.

This project will involve 547 women health workers of National Programme for Family Planning and Primary Health Care who will frequently visit the targeted areas in Thatta.

The government has plans to expand this initiative in eight more districts of Sindh.

He said this was a joint initiative of the federal government, USAID and WFP. However, Aga Khan University would carry out a third party evolution of the project to assess gaps during the next two years.

This pilot project would ensure to break the cycle of under-nutrition in Pakistan, he added.