The Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) has taken significant steps to improve the lives of registered mothers and their children under the Benazir Nashonuma Program. These efforts aim to ensure better nutrition and access to essential health services for underserved families.
Collaboration Between BISP and Population Council
To enhance support for registered beneficiaries, BISP has partnered with the Population Council. This collaboration focuses on leveraging advanced techniques and tools to provide extensive assistance to over 2.6 million mothers and their children.
Chairperson Senator Rubina Khalid emphasized the need for stronger synergy between BISP and the Population Council to ensure long-lasting health and nutrition outcomes for mothers and children.
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Key Highlights of the Benazir Nashonuma Program
The Benazir Nashonuma Program delivers essential nutrition and healthcare support to pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, as well as their children under two years of age. Some of the program’s core objectives include:
- Health and Nutrition Services: Providing nutritious food packages and health guidance.
- Awareness Campaigns: Educating mothers on child health and nutrition through targeted audio-visual messages.
- Specialized Support: Addressing maternal and child malnutrition in underprivileged areas.
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PMT Limit Increased to 60 for Baluchistan
To ensure the inclusion of more deserving families, the Proxy Means Test (PMT) limit has been raised from 32 to 60 in Baluchistan. This will allow easier enrollment for underserved households.
According to Senator Rubina Khalid, this decision will enable more families to benefit from the Benazir Nashonuma Program, particularly in remote districts accessed through mobile service vans.
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Nutrition and Health Services for Over 2.6 Million Beneficiaries
The program currently supports over 2.6 million pregnant and breastfeeding mothers along with their children. The following services are being provided:
- Nutritious Food Packages: Delivered monthly to ensure dietary needs are met.
- Maternal Health Monitoring: Regular check-ups for pregnant women to ensure safe pregnancies.
- Child Health Support: Special focus on children under two years of age to prevent stunted growth.
- Targeted Outreach: Mobile health services deployed in remote areas to extend program reach.
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Discussion on Improving Outreach and Efficiency
During a recent conference, key stakeholders, including Dr. Zeba A. Sattar and Dr. Rana Hajjeh, highlighted strategies to improve program efficiency:
- Enhanced Coordination: Strengthening collaboration with the Ministry of Health and other partners.
- Data Utilization: Leveraging BISP’s extensive database to identify and target the most vulnerable families.
- Customized Awareness Campaigns: Developing tailored audio and video messages to educate mothers about nutrition and health.
- Technical Support: Population Council pledged operational and technical assistance to improve program delivery.
Dr. Asim Ijaz, Director General of BISP, emphasized the importance of continued dialogue with health departments to maximize program impact.
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Conclusion
The expansion of the Benazir Nashonuma Program demonstrates the commitment of BISP to improve maternal and child health across Pakistan. With increased PMT limits in Baluchistan and support from the Population Council, more deserving families can now access vital nutrition and health services. This program stands as a beacon of hope for millions striving for healthier and more sustainable lives.
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