Right Start Pakistan: A Journey of Nourishment

The Enchanted Tale of Breastfeeding Initiatives in Pakistan

In the enchanting realm of policy-making, a tale of transformation and hope unfolded with the advent of the “Right Start Pakistan” program. Launched by Nutrition International in the year 2015, this remarkable program embarked on a noble quest to improve the survival and health of pregnant women, newborns, and young children across the magical land of Pakistan.

With a generous investment of?$CAN 4.9M?spanning over five years, the program set its sights on addressing critical challenges faced by expectant mothers, such as complications during pregnancy and delivery, reducing low birth weight, and combating stunting in children under five. Supported by the benevolent Government of Canada, the program aimed to enhance nutrition for vulnerable populations, paving the way for a brighter future for all.

The story of “Right Start Pakistan” was woven with a primary goal in mind – to create a healthier and thriving beginning for mothers and their precious little ones. With unwavering determination, the policy writers crafted interventions to reduce anemia, pregnancy complications, and low birth weight. They envisioned a world where every child would have the opportunity to reach their full potential, unhampered by stunting.

The kingdom of Pakistan faced a pressing burden of malnutrition, as revealed by the National Nutrition Survey 2011. The policy writers knew they must confront this challenge head-on, empowering women and children with the gift of good health. With the winds of change at their back, they sought to create a strong foundation for maternal and child well-being.

Guided by their noble mission, the policy writers journeyed to secure funding from bilateral and donor agencies, including the?Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). With their resources pooled together, they reached out to the target population with transformative interventions.

In the land of Pakistan, the enchanting spell of “Right Start Pakistan” began to unfold. It reached?275,000 expectant mothers, providing them with the WHO-recommended iron and folic acid supplementation. As the program’s magic weaved through the kingdom,?298,000 newborns?received a package of interventions at birth, ensuring safer deliveries and optimal care for low-birth-weight babies.

Additionally, an estimated?546,000 children aged up to 24 months?benefited from infant and young child nutrition services, protecting them from the grip of undernutrition. The program’s impact on maternal and child health and nutrition indicators was nothing short of remarkable.

Throughout their quest, the policy writers knew that collaboration and community engagement were essential to their success. They formed strong partnerships with government agencies, civil society organizations, and international entities, drawing upon their collective strength to make the magic of “Right Start Pakistan” even more potent.

In this transformative tale, the communities of Pakistan were empowered to take charge of their health and nutrition. The program harnessed the power of community engagement, raising awareness and mobilizing support to create sustainable changes in behaviors and practices.

As the years passed, the program’s legacy continued to flourish. It sought to ensure the sustainability of its interventions by building the capacity of healthcare providers and strengthening existing health systems. The program aimed to embed the practices and knowledge gained within the healthcare system to continue the positive impact even beyond the project timeline.

Based on the current NNS-2018 statistics, the “Right Start Pakistan” program has made notable progress in improving certain indicators related to breastfeeding. The report indicates that the proportion of Pakistani babies starting breastfeeding within the first hour of birth increased to?45.8%?in 2018, representing a?6-percentage point improvement?from 2011. This suggests that the program’s efforts to promote early initiation of breastfeeding have been effective.

Additionally, the proportion of children exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life showed positive trends, with the highest rates observed in KPK (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) at?60.7%. Although improvements are evident, there is still room for enhancement in other regions such as AJK (Azad Jammu and Kashmir) and Baluchistan, where the rates are comparatively lower.

However, the report also highlights areas where further improvements are needed. The practice of continued breastfeeding decreased from?77.3%?in 2011 to?68.4%?at one year of age, indicating a slight decline. To ensure optimal nutrition for children, efforts should be made to encourage continued breastfeeding beyond the first year of life.

The timely introduction of complementary feeding remains a challenge, with only?one in three?young children receiving complementary food between 6-8 months of age. There is also a gender disparity, as a smaller proportion of boys are introduced to complementary food at the appropriate age compared to girls. These findings suggest that more targeted interventions are required to improve the timely initiation of complementary feeding across all regions in Pakistan.

Furthermore, the statistics reveal that there is still a significant gap in achieving minimum dietary diversity and frequency of meals among children aged 6-23 months. Only?one in seven?children (14.2%) receive a meal with minimum dietary diversity, and?one in four?children (18.2%) receive the minimum number of meals per day. Additionally, less than?one in 20?children (3.6%) receive complementary foods that meet the requirements of a minimum acceptable diet. These findings emphasize the need for continued efforts to improve the quality and diversity of complementary foods provided to young children.

While the “Right Start Pakistan” program has contributed positively to breastfeeding rates and reached a significant number of women and children with nutrition interventions, the statistics indicate that further attention and targeted interventions are required to address the remaining challenges in complementary feeding practices and dietary diversity. Ongoing efforts and collaborations are necessary to sustain and enhance the program’s impact on improving these indicators in Pakistan.

To compare “Right Start Pakistan” with another breastfeeding program from around the world, the policy writers also looked to the “Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative” (BFHI), a global program launched by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF. The BFHI aims to promote and support breastfeeding through the implementation of Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding in healthcare facilities.

Both the “Right Start Pakistan” program and the BFHI share the common goal of improving breastfeeding practices. They recognize the importance of early initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, and continued breastfeeding for up to two years or beyond, while also introducing appropriate complementary feeding.

However, “Right Start Pakistan” takes a comprehensive approach to addressing maternal and child nutrition beyond breastfeeding, including anemia, low birth weight, and stunting. The program emphasizes the provision of iron and folic acid supplementation, capacity building of healthcare providers, and comprehensive infant and young child nutrition services.

On the other hand, the BFHI specifically targets healthcare facilities and focuses on creating a supportive environment for breastfeeding within these settings. It emphasizes the implementation of evidence-based practices to support breastfeeding, including training healthcare staff and ensuring that hospitals and maternity facilities meet certain criteria to be recognized as “Baby-Friendly.”

Both programs have made significant contributions to improving breastfeeding practices in their respective contexts. The “Right Start Pakistan” program has reached a large number of pregnant women, newborns, and young children with nutrition interventions, including breastfeeding support. The BFHI has been implemented in various countries worldwide, leading to increased rates of breastfeeding initiation and duration.

In conclusion, while the “Right Start Pakistan” program and the BFHI share the common goal of promoting breastfeeding, they differ in their scope and approach. The “Right Start Pakistan” program takes a comprehensive approach to addressing maternal and child nutrition, while the BFHI focuses specifically on creating baby-friendly environments in healthcare facilities. Both programs have been instrumental in improving breastfeeding practices and contribute to the global efforts to support optimal infant and young child feeding.

The enchanting tale of “Right Start Pakistan” remains etched in the hearts of those it touched, a legacy of change that endures for generations to come. As the policy writers continue their journey of creating a healthier, more equitable world, they draw strength from this transformative story, knowing that their words have the power to shape a brighter future for all who inhabit the enchanted lands of policy-making.