Pakistan Country Profile
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Population:
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164,790,000
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Children-under-5 mortality rate:
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95 per 1000
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Vitamin A deficiency, in children 6 to 59 months old:
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12.5%
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Iodine deficiency among school-going children:
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63.6%
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Prevalence of anemia, in children 6 to 59 months old:
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50.9%
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Prevalence of anemia, in women:
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29.4%
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Our Priorities in Pakistan
MI's highest priorities in Pakistan have been to:
- Maintain high coverage rates of vitamin A supplementation (VAS) with National Immunization Days (NIDs)
- Increase access to and use of adequately iodized salt
- Initiate, expand and sustain flour fortification programs
- Initiate zinc intervention in collaboration with the Ministry of Health
- Initiate and expand home-based fortification programs
Advocating for Universal Access to Essential Vitamins and Minerals
With technical and financial assistance from MI, Pakistan's Ministry of Health (MoH) finalized the National Plan for Action (NPA) in 2005, and the Federal Minister for Health launched it in early 2006. The Nutrition Wing has already started using the NPA and initiated supplementation and fortification activities suggested in the NPA. Inclusion of these activities in the implementation strategy is expected to lead to further investment by the Government of Pakistan in micronutrient programs. Vitamin A supplementation has already been included in two separate plans (VAS with National Immunization Days and post-NID strategy) -a good sign for the sustainability of Pakistan's national VAS programs. MI is also working with closely with the World Bank and other partners to support the Ministry of Health to develop a plan and allocate funds for the work of the Ministry's Nutrition Wing.
Read a case study on the National Plan of Action
MI assisted the Ministry of Health with a successful proposal to the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) for the Government of Pakistan's National Flour Fortification project.
MI supported the Government of Pakistan in designing a national iodine deficiency control program and worked with small-scale salt producers in 65 districts to enable salt iodization.
MI continues to work with UNICEF and the Government of Pakistaon in implementing the national VAS program.
Major Partnerships
MI has a strong partnership with the ministry of Health Nutrition Wing which includes support to the Nutrition Wing's program as well as placing an MI technical advisor in the Ministry.
MI has developed a partnership with UNICEF Pakistan to work together in supporting the Government of Pakistan's efforts to ensure high coverage of VAS and high access to adequately iodized salt.
MI supported the scaling-up of wheat flour fortification in collaboration with the Government of
Pakistan, the World Food Programme (WFP), and GAIN.
An example of MI's wheat flour fortification work in Pakistan
In collaboration with the Government of Pakistan, MI and WFP have jointly started iodine deficiency disorder (IDD) control activities in the high-risk districts of northern Pakistan, in North West Frontier Province (NWFP), Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), and Federally Administered Northern Areas (FANA).
Advancing Knowledge and Analysis: Research, Monitoring, and Assessment
MI supported a pilot test of an innovative approach to vitamin A supplementation that does not rely on twice-yearly National Immunization Days (NIDs) because NIDs are expected to be phased out in the next few years.
Read more about the pilot test.
MI commissioned comparative acceptability studies on fortified roller-milled wheat flour in Pakistan. These studies led to the large-scale wheat flour fortification programs that are currently implemented in Pakistan.
Read more about these studies
Child Survival
Supporting Immune Systems and Reducing Deaths from Common Childhood Diseases
Vitamin A Supplements (VAS)
In 2007, 28.9 million children were reached with two doses of vitamin A, achieving 100% coverage. VAS activities were carried out with National Immunization Days (NIDs) throughout the country. MI provided capsules, as well as technical and program planning and implementation assistance.
Child Development
Preventing Mental Impairment with Iodine and Iron
Iodine
In 2006, MI-supported programs enabled the production of enough iodized salt to reach 140 million people in Pakistan. MI focused on strong coordination among partners, capacity building with the government and salt industry, providing potassium iodate (KIO3), feeders, and other equipment needed for salt iodization. MI also offered training exercises and devising monitoring, reporting and quality control systems and assisting with promotion and enforcement of legislation on compulsory 100% edible salt iodization.
Read about a salt iodization situation assessment in Pakistan
Iron
MI supported the distribution of single-serving multiple micronutrient powder using a social marketing approach and free distribution through the Lady Health Worker Program. These powders are to be added to complementary food that is consumed by children aged 6 to 24 months to address anemia and other micronutrient deficiencies.
Read more about multiple micronutrient powder in Pakistan
Women's Health
Preventing Iron Deficiency Anemia and Neural Tube Defects with Iron and Folic Acid
In 2007, MI's programs supported the production of fortified flour in Azad Jammu & Kashmir and earthquake districts of NWFP to reach 1.57 million beneficiaries. MI developed strong coordination with partners, built capacity of the government and flour industry, and provided free pre-mix and micro-feeders during the initial project period. MI also established the team that is managing the GAIN-supported National Flour Fortification program and continues to provide technical and procurement support.
MI in Pakistan
Dr. Noor Ahmad Khan
Director, Pakistan
House No. 25, Street 30, F-8/1
Islamabad, 44000, Pakistan
Tel: 92 51 2816163
Fax: 92 51 2816165