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Thursday March 28, 2024

Petition-signing drive launched to end maternal anemia in Pakistan

By our correspondents
December 04, 2016

The Sindh government is determined to make every effort to reduce iron deficiency and anemia causing more complications for mothers during pregnancy.

This was stated by Health Minister Dr Sikandar Mandhro while addressing a campaign a few days ago. 

Speaking at a petition-signing drive, titled “Ending Maternal Anemia”, by White Ribbon Alliance at a local hotel, the minister urged healthcare professionals and those who belonged to the health sector indirectly and the media to play their role in highlighting the issue. Proper counseling and provision of medicines timely would help reduce this issue, which was reaching alarming levels, he added.

Dr Qudsiya spoke on the measures required to overcome the factors causing anemia and iron deficient, especially in adolescent girls. There was need to create awareness in society, especially among women, to improve their nutrition.

Briefing the participants about state of health affairs in the country, Dr Neelofer said Pakistan was ranked 180th among 185 counties facing malnutrition issues. Women and girls attaining adolescent age need proper guidance and extensive efforts by the government and society to stay healthy. “We need more efforts to improve communications to change the behavior of society,” she said. Dr Asma Badar, national campaign manager, White Ribbon Alliance, spoke about the basic objectives of the campaign named Maternal Anemia Signified in Sindh (MASS).

The campaign aimed to reduce maternal anemia through engaging communities, amplifying their voices and providing a platform to share their health and nutrition-related issues, especially with regard to maternal anemia with the district and provincial level decision-makers, she said.  The petition has been launched in collaboration with more than 15 community-based organisations working in Sindh.