Improving Maternal Nutrition Through Food Security in Pakistan

Abstract

Malnutrition casts a significant shadow over Pakistan's future, prosperity, and the well-being of its people. Compared to other developing nations, Pakistan stands out with one of the highest rates of malnutrition, affecting both children and women. Malnutrition in Pakistan is primarily due to food insecurity, compounded by low dietary intake among women, particularly pregnant and lactating women. This low dietary intake is linked to food insecurity, poor livelihood, and cultural barriers. Global guidelines emphasize the importance of meeting women's nutritional requirements through promoting a balanced and nourishing diet. The government of Pakistan, in collaboration with national and international organizations and funding agencies, has initiated various measures to alleviate prevalent nutritional concerns. Collaborative actions have been implemented to run various programs and interventions aimed at improving nutrition among children and women. Many effective approaches have been included in the Nutrition Strategy 2022-27. The Enough Food Model is one such tested approach designed to enhance food security and improve nutrition and livelihood by making families resilient. This model is being applied by national organizations in low-indexed areas with financial support from international organizations on a pilot basis and has achieved remarkable results. Like many other tested multi-sectoral nutrition approaches, the self-sufficiency or Enough Food Model is poised to be an effective approach for broader replication.