WPC, UNICEF, and FAFEN Join Hands to Address Nutrition and Health Challenges in Pakistan
Consultative session scheduled for October to drive policy changes and improve health outcomes, tackling malnutrition and diabetes
Islamabad: Secretary Women’s Parliamentary Caucus Dr. Shahida Rehmani hosted a meeting with representatives from UNICEF and FAFEN to discuss an upcoming consultative session scheduled for the first week of October 2024. The meeting, held at the WPC headquarters, included notable attendees: Mr. Anteneh Girma Minas, Chief of Nutrition at UNICEF; Dr. Saba, ECD Manager at UNICEF; Ms. Fahmida Khan, Gender and Development Specialist at UNICEF; and Mr. Salahudin Safdar from FAFEN.
Secretary WPC Dr. Shahida Rehmani gave a warm welcome to the representatives from UNICEF and FAFEN. Mr. Anteneh Girma Minas emphasized the pressing need to address Pakistan’s nutrition development issues, highlighting that malnutrition costs the country approximately 3% of its GDP.
The discussion focused on critical areas such as child-related legislation, family-friendly policies, and gender social issues to drive effective policy changes and improve health outcomes.
Mr. Minas also drew attention to Pakistan’s concerning status as the second-highest country in diabetic patient numbers, underscoring the need for targeted intervention.
Moreover, plans were discussed for a Nutrition Advocacy Dialogue with parliamentarians to facilitate robust discussions and foster policy advancement.
Ms. Fahmida Khan outlined UNICEF’s comprehensive three-dimensional strategy addressing Diet, Services, and Practices to tackle nutrition-related challenges.
Dr. Shahida Rehmani with the team has decided to arrange a consultative session which will be tentatively scheduled for October 4th, 5th, and 6th, 2024. The WPC and UNICEF will jointly make efforts to address these issues.
This collaborative effort marks a significant step towards addressing critical health and nutrition issues in Pakistan and fostering impactful policy dialogue.
