The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) announced in August 2024 that it is launching a $7.2 million nutrition and immunisation programme in Pakistan with support from federal and provincial governments, Gavi, and The Power of Nutrition (TPoN). The programme seeks to support more than one million mothers and children in the most marginalised areas of three provinces. Pakistan faces “significant” child health challenges, with the third-highest global burden of child mortality; it ranks third in the world for the “most under-vaccinated children” with nearly 1.2 million children not immunised. In hard-to-reach populations, where there are higher concentrations of “undernourished, stunted, and wasted children”, there are high numbers of “zero-dose” children.
Malnutrition and under-immunisation
AKF infers from the correlation of malnourished and under-immunised children that children who are at high risk of malnutrition are also the ones missing out on essential immunisation services. Therefore, an integrated immunisation and nutrition approach could provide “combined reinforcement benefits”. Although malnutrition and infectious diseases are “key contributors” to child morbidity and mortality, immunisation and nutrition programmes “often operate in isolation”.
$7.2 million programme
The programme will support districts with a “particularly high” need: Diamir, Astore, Gilgit, Sibi, Bolan, Usta Muhammad, Thatta, and Sajawal. It is jointly funded by the partners and centrally managed by The Power of Nutrition. Starting later this year, it will run until 2027.
The integrated approach involves strengthening health systems to address existing gaps, social behaviour change communication to ensure demand for immunisation, and support for district and national governments towards evidence-based decision making and learning. It seeks to provide “vital evidence” on the importance of integration and real-life examples to demonstrate cost-effective methods of joint delivery.
Akhtar Iqbal, Chief Executive Officer of Aga Khan Foundation Pakistan, looks forward to the “unique opportunity” to contribute to Sustainable Development Goals by “extending an integrated package of immunisation, health, and nutrition interventions for children living in some of the most marginalised districts in Pakistan”.
“Through a close partnership with the Federal and Provincial Expanded Programme on Immunisation Directorates, and technical support of the Aga Khan Health Services and Aga Khan University, the programme will generate data, evidence, and learning to fill gaps and discover what works in this under-resourced area.”
Dr Tokunbo Oshin, Director, High Impact Countries, Gavi, is “pleased to be able to support this innovative programme”, which addresses parental preferences to be “reached with package of interventions”.
“Through health systems strengthening efforts, this will be a good opportunity to provide essential services in remote areas of Pakistan and learn how to better scale up integrated service delivery, including immunisation and nutrition.”
Dr Alok Ranjan, Director of Programmes and Investments, The Power of Nutrition, is “delighted to bring together” the partners for a “vital project”.
“For too long nutrition and immunisation stakeholders have been working separately, despite the interventions reaching similar populations and being mutually beneficial. This programme promises not only real impact in Pakistan, [but] it can help pave the way for more integrated programming worldwide.”
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