The Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health, Aga Khan University (AKU) conducted a five-arm cluster randomized controlled trial, to examine the effectiveness and cost-impact of specialized nutritious foods (SNF), asocial and behavioral change communication (SBCC) and unconditional cash transfers delivered to the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) beneficiaries to prevent stunting among children 6-23 months in district Rahim Yar Khan, Punjab. The Principle Investigator for the researc
h study was Dr. Sajid Soofi, Associate Professor at AKU. Other investigators of the study were Dr. Shabina Ariff, Dr. Atif Habib, Mr. Gul Nawaz Khan and Mr. Masawar Hussain. This study was conducted in partnership with World Food Programme (WFP), BISP and the Integrated Reproductive Maternal Newborn, Child Health & Nutrition Program (IRMNCH&NP), Punjab with funding support from WFP. The study was carried out between December 2016 and November 2019.
The study findings revealed a 15% reduction in the prevalence of stunting and 33% reduction in wasting in children at 24 months following an 18 months intervention of SNF, cash-based transfers, and SBCC intervention packages. It is recommended that SNF in combination with cash transfers and SBCC be scaled up to improve the nutritional status of children in Pakistan and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The event was attended by Dr. Sania Nishtar, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation/BISP Chairperson and representatives from AKU, WFP, IRMNCH&NP, BISP and UN agencies. In her opening remarks, Dr. Sania Nishtar stated that, “Child stunting is a double-edged sword and remains a major barrier to the human capital development. It is linked to a number of factors including quality of water, sanitation and agricultural in contaminations etc. Within framework of Ehsaas, this new study will guide design and implementation of all nutrition specific policies and interventions on the basis of evidence.”
The Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health, Aga Khan University (AKU) conducted a five-arm cluster randomized controlled trial, to examine the effectiveness and cost-impact of specialized nutritious foods (SNF), asocial and behavioral change communication (SBCC) and unconditional cash transfers delivered to the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) beneficiaries to prevent stunting among children 6-23 months in district Rahim Yar Khan, Punjab. The Principle Investigator for the researc
h study was Dr. Sajid Soofi, Associate Professor at AKU. Other investigators of the study were Dr. Shabina Ariff, Dr. Atif Habib, Mr. Gul Nawaz Khan and Mr. Masawar Hussain. This study was conducted in partnership with World Food Programme (WFP), BISP and the Integrated Reproductive Maternal Newborn, Child Health & Nutrition Program (IRMNCH&NP), Punjab with funding support from WFP. The study was carried out between December 2016 and November 2019.
The study findings revealed a 15% reduction in the prevalence of stunting and 33% reduction in wasting in children at 24 months following an 18 months intervention of SNF, cash-based transfers, and SBCC intervention packages. It is recommended that SNF in combination with cash transfers and SBCC be scaled up to improve the nutritional status of children in Pakistan and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The event was attended by Dr. Sania Nishtar, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation/BISP Chairperson and representatives from AKU, WFP, IRMNCH&NP, BISP and UN agencies. In her opening remarks, Dr. Sania Nishtar stated that, “Child stunting is a double-edged sword and remains a major barrier to the human capital development. It is linked to a number of factors including quality of water, sanitation and agricultural in contaminations etc. Within framework of Ehsaas, this new study will guide design and implementation of all nutrition specific policies and interventions on the basis of evidence.”