Policy Advocacy Meeting on Malnutrition and Implementation of Breastfeeding
Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO), in collaboration with its consortium partners, IRC, MERF, 15 local civil society organizations, Sindh Climate Action Network (SCAN), and SUN-CSA, organized a policy advocacy meeting with Sindh Provincial Assembly Member Ms. Saima Aga at SPO’s Regional Office in Hyderabad. The meeting brought together representatives of civil society organizations to discuss critical malnutrition issues and the effective implementation of the Sindh Protection and Promotion of Breastfeeding and Young Child Nutrition Act, 2023. Mr. Amjad Baloch, Regional Manager Sindh, highlighted the collaborative efforts of SPO, SCAN, and IRC in addressing malnutrition across five districts of Sindh. He provided a detailed briefing on the Breastfeeding Act and stressed the need for a structured implementation mechanism.
Dr. Ranomal Lohano, Program Coordinator at IRC, shared the achievements and challenges of the EU-funded nutrition project, emphasizing the importance of increasing nutrition financing and enforcing the Breastfeeding and Food Fortification Acts. SCAN members Ms. Pushpa Kumari and CSO policy advocacy working group member Mr. Kashish Siddiqi (member BoD NARI Foundation) raised concerns about malnutrition issues in Sindh in the context of climate change exacerbating the marginalization of vulnerable groups. Participants also highlighted malnutrition and the illegal prescription of formula milk. Recommendations included integrating gender and green audits into the law’s implementation and engaging the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus to advocate for these issues.
Ms. Saima Aga appreciated the efforts of SPO, IRC, and SCAN in combating malnutrition and pledged her support in the Provincial Assembly. Key action points included raising questions in the Provincial Assembly about the implementation of the Breastfeeding and Food Fortification Acts and adding malnutrition, climate change, and GBV to the Women’s Caucus agenda. SPO, IRC, and SCAN shall be invited to provide briefings during the caucus meeting. This meeting served as a critical step in strengthening policy advocacy efforts and fostering collaboration to improve nutrition governance in Sindh.
Nutrition Policy Advocacy Sindh: Efforts to influence policies and practices in Sindh to improve nutrition outcomes, particularly focusing on the effective implementation of nutrition-related laws, programs, and actions to combat malnutrition.
Breastfeeding Act Implementation: Refers to the application and enforcement of the Sindh Protection and Promotion of Breastfeeding and Young Child Nutrition Act, 2023, which seeks to promote and protect breastfeeding as a vital aspect of infant and child health.
Malnutrition: A condition that results from inadequate or poor nutrition, which can lead to various health problems, including stunted growth, weakened immunity, and other chronic diseases, often exacerbated by factors like poverty and climate change.
Civil Society Collaboration on Nutrition: The collective efforts of non-governmental organizations, local civil society organizations, and networks working together to address malnutrition and improve nutrition policies, programs, and services.
Food Fortification Act Sindh: Legislation aimed at improving the nutritional quality of food by adding essential vitamins and minerals, especially to staple foods, as a public health measure to combat micronutrient deficiencies in the population.
Gender Inclusion in Nutrition Policies: Ensuring that nutrition policies and interventions consider the unique needs and roles of all genders, promoting equitable access to nutrition and addressing specific barriers that women and marginalized genders face in achieving optimal nutrition.
Climate Change and Malnutrition: The impact of climate change, including droughts, floods, and changing weather patterns, on food security and nutrition, which can worsen malnutrition, particularly among vulnerable populations in Sindh.
Parliamentary Advocacy for Nutrition: Efforts to engage with members of the provincial assembly and other policymakers to ensure that nutrition issues are prioritized in legislative agendas and that laws such as the Breastfeeding Act and Food Fortification Act are effectively implemented.
Women’s Caucus Nutrition Agenda: Refers to the inclusion of nutrition-related topics, such as malnutrition and the implementation of relevant laws, within the discussions and advocacy efforts of the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus, ensuring that women’s voices and concerns are central in addressing nutrition issues.
Nutrition Advocacy: The act of advocating for policies, funding, and programs that prioritize nutrition and address malnutrition, aiming to raise awareness and drive positive change at local, regional, and national levels.
Policy Advocacy: The strategic effort to influence and change public policies through lobbying, collaboration, and campaigns to ensure that key issues, like nutrition and health, are addressed by governments and relevant stakeholders.
Climate Change and Malnutrition: (Repeated keyword) The interconnection between climate change and malnutrition, with particular emphasis on how environmental factors exacerbate food insecurity and malnutrition in vulnerable regions.
