ISLAMABAD: The Euro­pean Union (EU) will provide €60 million for improving nutrition in Sindh. The EU assistance will also align and actively support the ongoing ‘Accelerated Action Plan for the Reduction of Stunting and Malnutrition’ in the province.

An agreement to this effect was signed on Friday by the EU Ambassador in Pakistan, Jean-Francois Cautain, and Economic Affairs Division Secretary Shahid Mahmood. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar was also present at the event.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Dar appreciated the EU’s assistance for improving nutrition in Sindh. He said that Pakistan and the EU shared a long history of cooperation in a wide range of areas. He added that he appreciated the EU’s support as a development partner of the country.

Ambassador Cautain said that the project would help overcome the problem of malnutrition in Sindh.

The scope and objective of the agreement is primarily to increase the capacity of the Sindh government so that it may efficiently implement its multi-sectoral nutrition policy — while providing direct assistance to significantly and rapidly reduce malnutrition in the province.

Under the programme, various activities will be carried out such as policy and advocacy efforts, support in improving national procedures, capacity building of local stakeholders, strengthening the provincial government’s nutrition-specific information management systems and creating awareness about the significance of nutrition-related issues.

The provincial government has developed a priority action framework for nutrition to reduce stunting from 48 per cent in 2016 to 30pc in 2021. It has allocated Rs1 billion during the previous fiscal year and committed more funds in subsequent years to facilitate the implementation of the priority action framework.

The World Bank (WB) is also providing assistance worth $61.6m to the provincial government to support the expansion of measures to improve the nutrition status of mothers and children in 23 districts of Sindh.

According to WB, Sindh’s nutrition indicators were among the worst in the country. In the recent Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), Sindh’s malnutrition and micronutrient deficiency levels were above the cut-off for a serious public health problem with wasting at 15.4pc, and stunting at 48pc.

Vitamin A deficiency and anaemia among children under the age of five was recorded at 53pc and 73pc, with the latter about 10 points above the national average.

A number of factors have contributed to these trends over the past decade, including worsening household food insecurity, poor water quality and limited water availability, low literacy rates, early and frequent childbearing, suboptimal sanitation and hygiene practices such as open defecation.

Published in Dawn, July 22nd, 2017