Senator Rubina Khalid, Chairperson of the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP), met with Sindh Minister for Health Dr. AzraFazalPechuho. The meeting focused on ongoing health initiatives aimed at improving the well-being of Sindh’s residents. During the meeting, Senator Khalid and her team provided an overview of the BISP’s health-related programs, particularly the Benazir NashoNuma program. This initiative is designed to combat malnutrition among pregnant and lactating women (PLW) and children under two years old who are beneficiaries of the BISP Kafalat Program.
The program operates through “Facilitation Centres” established at various government health facilities across the province, including 35 mobile sites. The Director General of BISP Sindh elaborated on the NashoNuma program, which tackles stunting among PLW and their young children by offering additional cash incentives.
In return, beneficiaries are required to participate in regular antenatal check-ups, awareness sessions, and to provide their children with specialized nutritious food and routine immunizations. Dr. AzraPechuho commended BISP’s efforts in tackling child stunting, improving pregnant women’s weight, reducing anemia, and enhancing maternal and child health awareness. Drawing on her extensive experience in the health sector, Dr. Pechuho suggested extending the program to Basic Health Units through the People’s Primary Healthcare Initiative (PPHI) and other partner organizations. She offered access to the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) data and pledged her support to further enhance the program’s impact.
