Objectives: Punjab, Pakistan, contends with the pressing issue of malnutrition, adversely impacting its diverse and substantial population, particularly children and mothers. High rates of malnutrition and elevated infant and under-5 mortality strain the healthcare system.
The Government of Punjab has initiated an ambitious program to integrate nutrition into primary healthcare, focusing on Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) treatment and the prevention of Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM).
Methods: This initiative's core focus is the integration of SAM treatment into routine primary healthcare targeting vulnerable population, ensuring sustainability. It introduces real-time reporting for program effectiveness, enhances maternal care, and invests substantially in skilled birth delivery services. This comprehensive strategy, including cost-effective micronutrient supplementation for children, presents a promising solution for persistent malnutrition.
Results: This transformative journey holds immense significance, serving as a compelling success story for underdeveloped regions facing similar challenges. The Punjab model's effective integration of nutrition into primary healthcare offers a replicable template for maximizing resource utilization. This innovative approach not only bolstered healthcare providers' confidence in treating malnutrition but also elevated overall health-seeking behaviours, including increased immunization rates from 60% to 90% and skilled birth attendance from 38% in 2017 to 73%. With over 80% of children with Severe Acute Malnutrition successfully treated and a reduction in defaults to less than 10%, it comprehensively addresses malnutrition while setting a precedent for sustainable solutions.
Conclusions: The transformative initiative, marked by its replicability, not only addresses the pressing issue of malnutrition but also serves as a model to implement comprehensive primary health care in lower middle income settings, showcasing the potential for sustainable solutions and improved health outcomes. The oral presentation will delve into the innovative model and real-time reporting mechanism.
Funding Sources: This study was completed using inhouse data assessment of department of Health.
