Karachi, 12 August 2024 (TDI): The US donated 486 metric tons of ready-to-use therapeutic food to Pakistan on Monday, which will treat approximately 29,000 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition.
Speaking at the ceremony at Port Qasim Karachi, US Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome said that it was an honor for him to be here on behalf of the United States and hand over therapeutic food to assist Pakistan in combating malnutrition.
He said that more than half of the assistance the US was providing today will be used in Sindh, with the rest going to Balochistan – the areas most affected by the devastating 2022 floods.
Since 2022, the US has provided assistance to help the poorest and hardest hit by supporting Pakistan in meeting acute water, health, and education needs. That includes about $100 million to address acute malnutrition in the country, with $15 million dedicated specifically to treating severely malnourished children.
With the latest donation, the US has provided emergency food and health care to over 317,000 Pakistani mothers and children, he said.
The ambassador said that the US has supported UNICEF and local Basic Health Units in providing screening and treatment facilities to improve the health of children under five years and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
US Support for Health Workers in Pakistan
The U.S. support has enabled over 779,000 front line health care workers to offer nutrition counseling to caregivers on optimal feeding practices for infants and kids to prevent malnutrition in the first place, he added.
Today in Karachi, AMB Blome delivered 486 tons of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) to treat 29,000 malnourished children in Pakistan.
With today’s donation, the U.S. has provided emergency food to more than 317,000 mothers and children and supported more than 779,000 heroic… pic.twitter.com/gyAa89ZMSL
— US Consulate Karachi (@usconsulatekhi) August 12, 2024
He further said that the US has also helped Pakistan meet acute maternal health needs, including by donating kits and equipment to heroic community midwives whose work reduces maternal infant mortality rate by improving community access to timely, high-standard maternal health services.
The US will continue to stand with Pakistan and its vulnerable communities as millions of Pakistanis work to recover and rebuild, he said, adding, that includes the work the United States was doing to address malnutrition, improve access to clean water and sanitation, build more resilient education facilities, and provide needed equipment to ensure better health outcomes for women and children.
98% Kids kids malnourished in Sindh: UNICEF Local Chief
Younger kids, mostly infant and young children, feeding practices in Sindh are very low and poor as around 98 percent of the kids under two years of age in the entire province are not adequately nourished, stated Unicef representative Abdullah A. Fadil.
He stated that the ratios of early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding were only 48% and 52.3%, respectively.
“Kids do need minimum dietary diversification, and minimum acceptable food requirements for children aged 6-23 months are a mere 12.6% and 2.2%, respectively, indicating that around 98% of kids in this range of age group in Sindh are not properly nourished,” he stated.
He was speaking at the same program, where the US Ambassador Bloom handed over 486 metric tons of life-saving nutrition aid to Unicef in the presence of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah.
The Ready-to-Use-Therapeutic Food (RUTF) — a nutrient-rich paste made especially from peanuts, sugar, milk powder, oil, vitamins, and minerals — will benefit over 29,000 children affected by severe acute malnutrition in the flood-affected regions of provinces of Sindh and Balochistan.
