ISLAMABAD: Director General of the Health Ministry, Baseer Khan Achakzai, on Wednesday called provincial governments to formulate a long-term action plan to expand the access of rural population to safe drinking water and nutrition as around 53,000 children in Pakistan die of diarrhea after drinking contaminated water annually.
Talking to a news channel, he expressed concern over the contaminated drinking water in rural areas. He urged provinces to increase their investment to support nutrition programs for children.
He told the media that, in collaboration with provincial governments, the Health Ministry would soon start a campaign to enhance maternal nutrition in rural areas through awareness programs.
He clarified that in 2024-25, awareness campaigns will be conducted in 67 selected districts with poor maternal nutrition indicators.
The Director-General of Health emphasized that it is essential to increase the knowledge and capabilities of healthcare providers to address maternal nutrition concerns and promote a collective responsibility approach.
The primary objective of the campaign is to increase awareness about the significance of maternal nutrition and enhance the skills of healthcare workers in both the public and private sectors.
He urged provinces to cooperate with the federal government in establishing frameworks for planning, prioritizing, and budgeting for safe water services to improve water quality and ensure access to safe drinking water for underserved populations.
He suggested that the governments of Punjab, KPK, and Balochistan should consider approving water policies and laws aimed at improving water quality and making it mandatory to conduct annual water quality checks. —APP
