BISP & WHO Combat Child Malnutrition in Pakistan | Nashonuma

Malnutrition in children is one of the biggest health challenges facing Pakistan today. Millions of children under the age of five suffer from poor nutrition, which affects not only their growth and development but also their chances of leading healthy, productive lives.

To fight this crisis, the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) has stepped up in a big way. Through a powerful collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), BISP has launched and expanded the Nashonuma programme—a groundbreaking initiative aimed at reducing malnutrition in children and mothers across the country.

By setting up over 169 Nutrition Stabilization Centers (NSCs) in hospitals and clinics nationwide, BISP and WHO are providing essential care and treatment to tens of thousands of children every year. These centers offer medical support, nutrition education, and follow-up services that are saving lives and creating healthier futures for countless families.

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The Malnutrition Crisis: A Silent Emergency

Malnutrition doesn’t always look like starvation. In many cases, it shows up in subtle but dangerous ways—stunted growth, weakened immunity, and poor brain development. In Pakistan, around 4 out of every 10 children under five are stunted, meaning they are too short for their age due to chronic undernutrition. Another significant percentage suffer from wasting, where children are dangerously thin and at high risk of dying if untreated.

These problems are especially serious during the first 1,000 days of a child’s life—from conception to age two. Poor nutrition during this window can have lasting effects, leading to health problems, lower school performance, and reduced earning potential later in life.

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What Is the Nashonuma Programme?

The Nashonuma initiative is a targeted health and nutrition programme designed for pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and children under two years of age. Its goal is to prevent malnutrition before it starts and to treat it when it does.

The programme provides:

• Cash incentives to encourage regular health check-ups
• Special nutritious food for mothers and children
• Medical treatment at specialized centers for children with severe malnutrition
• Education and counselling for mothers on proper feeding, hygiene, and care

By supporting families at the most critical stages of a child’s development, Nashonuma is helping to break the cycle of poverty and malnutrition.

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How the Nutrition Stabilization Centers Work

Nutrition Stabilization Centers (NSCs) are the heart of the Nashonuma programme. These centers are set up in public hospitals and health facilities and are staffed with trained doctors, nurses, and nutritionists.

Here’s what happens at an NSC:

1. Assessment and admission: Children showing signs of severe acute malnutrition are admitted to the center. They are assessed for medical complications and nutritional needs.
2. Inpatient care: Children receive specialized treatment, including therapeutic feeding, rehydration, and medications.
3. Nutrition for mothers: While the child is treated, mothers are also supported with nutritious food, guidance, and health education.
4. Discharge and follow-up: After recovery, the child is discharged and monitored through regular follow-up visits to prevent relapse.
5. Link to social support: Families are connected to ongoing financial assistance and food support under the BISP system.

These centers not only treat malnutrition—they empower families with the knowledge and tools to maintain good health after treatment.

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Combining Cash and Care: The CCT Approach

One of the standout features of the Nashonuma programme is the use of Conditional Cash Transfers (CCTs). Families are given financial support, but only if they meet certain health-related conditions. For example:

• Mothers must attend antenatal checkups during pregnancy.
• Children must receive growth monitoring and vaccinations.
• Mothers must bring children to health sessions and collect nutrition supplies regularly.

The payments are small but meaningful—just enough to cover transport costs, encourage follow-up visits, and reduce the financial burden on families.

This model helps ensure that families don’t just receive help once—they stay engaged with the health system, which is key to long-term impact.

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Real Impact, Real Lives

Since its launch, the Nashonuma programme has made remarkable progress:

• More than 43,000 children with severe acute malnutrition have been treated at NSCs in a single year.
• The centers have achieved an impressive cure rate of over 98%, which is well above international standards.
• Over 120,000 mothers have received nutrition counselling and support through the program.
• The programme is expanding, with a target of treating 80,000 children under five each year and opening 30 more NSCs to increase coverage.

These numbers represent real families who are seeing their children recover, grow stronger, and thrive.

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Community Involvement and Local Partnerships

The success of the programme wouldn’t be possible without strong partnerships. BISP works closely with WHO, provincial health departments, UNICEF, WFP, and many other organizations. Together, they create a coordinated network that includes:

• Community health workers who identify malnourished children in villages and refer them to NSCs
• Mobile health teams that reach remote and hard-to-access areas
• Monitoring and evaluation systems to track progress and ensure quality

By combining local knowledge with global expertise, this network ensures that no child is left behind.

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Addressing the Root Causes

While treating malnutrition is important, prevention is the ultimate goal. The Nashonuma programme addresses the deeper issues that lead to malnutrition, including:

• Poverty and food insecurity
• Lack of education about child nutrition
• Limited access to healthcare and clean water
• Poor maternal health during pregnancy

Through awareness campaigns, mother support groups, and health education sessions, families are learning how to give their children the right start in life.

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Looking Ahead: A Scalable Model

BISP’s Nashonuma initiative is not just solving a problem—it’s creating a model that can be scaled and adapted for use in other countries facing similar challenges. It combines:

• Smart design: blending cash support with healthcare
• Strong partnerships: involving global and local actors
• Data-driven decisions: using real-time information to guide the program

The future goals include:

• Expanding NSCs to 199 locations nationwide
• Reaching more mothers during adolescence and early pregnancy
• Adding climate-resilience components to address food insecurity from floods and droughts
• Including adolescent nutrition modules to promote long-term change

By continuing to evolve and grow, the programme is building a healthier future generation for Pakistan.

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FAQs

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Final Thoughts

The Nashonuma programme is more than just a health project—it’s a lifeline for families who have long struggled with hunger and poor health. By bringing together financial support, quality healthcare, and education, BISP and WHO are giving thousands of children a fighting chance to grow, thrive, and reach their full potential.

With continued investment, community participation, and government support, this initiative could reshape the future of child health in Pakistan—and serve as a shining example for other countries to follow.

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