The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) has reported the launch of a new $7.2 million nutrition and immunization program in Pakistan. The new program expects to help 1,000,000 moms and children in the most marginalized areas of four provinces.
This program is being executed in partnership with federal and provincial governments, Gavi, the Immunization Alliance, and The Power of Nutrition (TPoN). CEO, of AKF Pakistan, Akhtar Iqbal, said, “The strategic and innovative partnership with Gavi, the Immunization Partnership, and the Power of Nutrition gives us an extraordinary chance to add to the Sustainable Development Objectives by broadening a coordinated bundle of vaccination, health, and nourishment mediations for children living in probably the marginalized regions in Pakistan.Â
Pakistan faces critical difficulties in child health, with the third-highest burden of kid mortality and positioning third worldwide for the most under-vaccinated kids. Almost 1.2 million kids have not gotten important immunizations. The hardest-to-arrive populations, with the most elevated concentrations of undernourished, hindered, and wasted kids, also have huge quantities of “zero-dose” children — the people who have not gotten any immunizations. This connection demonstrates that kids at high risk of malnutrition are also the ones passing up basic immunization services. Â
Read more: One In Five Children Under-Five In Pakistan Suffer From Malnutrition
Conveying incorporated immunization and nutrition services can give joined support benefits. Infectious diseases and malnutrition are key contributors to child morbidity and mortality, as lack of healthy food impairs immune responses, increases infection risk, and decreases immunization viability. However, despite focusing on the same vulnerable populations, vaccination and nourishment programs frequently work in isolation.
The $7.2 million program expects to help seven districts where the need is especially high including Diamir, Astore, Gilgit, Sibi, Bolan, Usta Muhammad, Thatta, and Sajawal. Through a coordinated methodology, the program consolidates reinforcing health systems to address existing gaps in routine vaccination and nutrition services, social behavior change correspondence to produce interest in vaccination, and supporting area and national governments in checking and assessing information for proof-based decision-making and learning.
The organization expects to give vital proof of the significance of reconciliation and real-life examples that show cost-effective ways of joint delivery to develop health, nutrition, and immunization results while simultaneously creating strong health systems and networks.Â
Director of Projects and Investments, TPoN Dr. Alok Ranjan said: “We’re happy to unite accomplices Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and Aga Khan Foundation for this important project in Pakistan.”
The program, funded by all partners and centrally managed and overseen by TPoN, will begin later in 2024 and go through 2027.