KOHLU: Awareness rising Seminar on Nutrition Program conducted by PPHI DSU Kohlu with financial support of Balochistan Nutrition Program for mother & children was held in Government Model High school Kohlu.

District Health Officer Kohlu, Incharge Nadra Office Kohlu, Meer Baz Muhammad Marri Ameer Jamate Islami district Kohlu (The Chief Guest), Dr Yaqoob Khan Marri, Malik Akbar Khan Zarkoon, Haji Mazar Khan Marri, Khan Hashim Khan Zarkoon,  Hafeez Marri Principal Model High school Kohlu with staff and many other notables of different areas participated in the seminar.

Event Started with the recitation from The Holy Quran. Then M&E Officer PPHI DSU Kohlu Rafiq Buzdar had warmly welcomed the participant and shared that PPHI was started in the district in 2007, in the beginning BHU’s buildings were in very shabby condition and availability of required furniture, medical equipments and attendance of staff was near about nil.

From that period to till date PPHI had repaired more than 20 Health Facilities and also provided furniture, medical equipments, and sufficient quantity of medicines to all BHUs and also made punctual the habitual absentee staff and now all BHUs are functional and PHC services are being delivered to the poor masses of BHUs catchments areas at their door steps.

He further said that Lab Items including Microscope were also provided to 14 BHUs. He further added that while starting of Nutrition Program in July 2017 in kohlu PPHI established 18 OTP centers at their focused BHUs and 1 at DHQ Hospital Kohlu with technical and financial support of Balochistan Nutrition Program for Mothers and Children for the Treatment of Malnourished children from 6-59 months and Pregnant & Lactating Women as well.

He further said that as per NNS 2011 the SAM cases ratio should be maximum 6% of total under 5 years children of a population however when community based screening of 6-59 months children was conducted by PPHI at Kohlu the ratio of SAM cases was 12% and when the screening was conducted at OTP level the ratio of SAM cases was up to 22% and this situation was very alarming for all therefore situation was reported to BNPMC for further export investigation and way forward to deal the situation, on other hand this seminar was conducted to create awareness about causes malnutrition in the community and share the current situation.

Later on Samiullah Zarkoon District Nutrition Officer has given a detailed presentation about Nutrition program implementation from July 2016 to September 2017, he shared that all staff members of OTPs have been trained thrice on CMAM, use of RUTF & Multi micro nutrients and other stuff provided by BNPMC.

He also share that total 6375 children of 6-59 months were screened at BHUs catchments areas out of which 1425 children were facing severely acute malnutrition and 1221 were facing moderately acute malnutrition and remaining 3728 were normal. He further said that out of 1425 SAM children 541 children were fully cured and discharged from OTPs and 407 children are still admitted in program, Moreover 1095 children are getting Multi Micronutrients.

Focal person Nutrition program PPHI DSU Kohlu gave a detailed briefing about the importance of breastfeeding; he emphasize on exclusive breast feeding till to 6month age of child, he said that every mother should continue breastfeeding to her children till two years as it plays a vital role in the mental & physical growth of children and he further said that through this forum we should create awareness about the importance of breastfeeding in order to develop a healthy community.

Later on Dr. Murtaza Zarkoon had discussed different medical aspects of causes of malnutrition in detail. Head Master Model High School Kohlu Mr. Hafeez Marri expressed his views on available nutrients rich food in the district in his speech.

Lastly the chief guest Mir Baz Muhammad Marri was offered to address from the forum he said that the forum was very knowledgeable and he further said that PPHI had fully functionalized all BHUs and its performance is very satisfactory in the district,

He further added that Nutrition program which is very much need of district kohlu may be upgraded and community is very thankful to Government of Balochistan for starting such great program he further requested to all community for coordinating and cooperating with PPHI and NGO to make this program more useful and beneficial for their own community and to bring revolutionary improvement in Primary Healthcare services delivery to the poor masses of the area.

He further emphasized to conduct such events on UC level to create awareness among grass root level communities.