Maternal Anemia Signified in Sindh (MASS)



Key Wins:
- Successfully mobilized 100,000 signed petitions from 14 districts of Sindh and conducted citizen hearings leading to a notable 26% increase in the health sector budget by the Government of Sindh.
- A 20% increase in the number of Community Health Workers (CHWs), including Lady Health Workers (LHWs) and Community Midwives (CMWs), thereby enhancing the coverage of Iron and Folic Acid (IFA) supplements.
- Developed and integrated a counseling skills module on Maternal Anemia into the training curricula for community midwives, ensuring comprehensive training in addressing maternal health issues.
- Inclusion of nutrition messages in high schools textbooks securing a $62 million government-sponsored nutrition project.
Project Duration:
Project Brief:
The National Nutrition Survey (NNS) 2011 underscored the alarming state of maternal and child nutrition in Pakistan, revealing stagnant progress and worsening conditions. Shockingly, the prevalence of maternal anemia witnessed a significant surge, with rates soaring from 28.1% to 50.4% among non-pregnant women and from 28.3% to 48.9% among pregnant women between 2001 and 2011. Particularly alarming were the figures observed in Sindh, where 62% of non-pregnant women and 59% of pregnant women were reported to be anemic. This pervasive issue demands immediate attention and targeted interventions, as it not only poses risks to the health of mothers but also threatens the well-being of newborns.
In response, a collaborative effort involving government bodies and development partners, stemmed from extensive consultations and workshops, notably a pivotal national session in Islamabad in December 2015, and subsequent analysis focusing on Sindh province. The Campaign Development Workshop in Karachi in March 2016 further refined objectives and activities, leading to the formalization of the initiative as “Maternal Anemia Signified in Sindh” (MASS), underlining a collective commitment to combat this pervasive health challenge and improve maternal well-being.
The campaign aimed to achieve three objectives: enhancing the availability of iron and folic acid supplements by 20% in Sindh province, increasing the proportion of women receiving effective counseling on supplement importance by 20% from the baseline, and boosting awareness about anemia among adolescent girls in Sindh. To accomplish these goals, various activities were undertaken, including advocating for adequate funding for health worker programs, establishing a sub-group on maternal health, conducting media campaigns, leveraging social media for advocacy, advocating for improved counseling for expecting mothers, collaborating with educational institutions to integrate key nutrition messages, sensitizing private schools, and partnering with Sindh Government and organizations including Liaquat University of Medical and Health Science (LUMHS) Jomshoro and Pakistan Girl Guides Association to reach out to girls and their families.
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