The Program Management Unit (PMU) of the National Health Support Program (NHSP) Sindh successfully hosted the Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) Technical Working Group (TWG) meeting to review and advance the provincial MMS Scale-Up Program. During the session, Dr. Zakir Hussain Shah, National Project Manager for MMS at Nutrition International, presented a comprehensive overview of the program’s implementation, detailing the achievements, challenges, and future strategic directions for Sindh. This was followed by a detailed update from Mr. Dawar Adnan Shams, Senior Project Officer at Nutrition International, regarding the progress made on developing the Sindh Provincial Costed Implementation Plan (CIP) to ensure a structured, sustainable scale-up. To optimize field operations, the participants reviewed current interventions and recommended a stakeholder mapping exercise to clarify institutional roles, streamline geographic coverage, and eliminate duplication across districts. The high-level meeting brought together technical experts and key representatives from the WHO, UNICEF, Gates Foundation, PPHI, Nutrition International, AAP Task Force, WFP, SIHPP 1000 Days, Aga Khan University (AKU), and NHSP Sindh.
These MMS interventions play a transformative role in saving lives and combating maternal malnutrition across Sindh by providing pregnant women with critical vitamins and minerals that standard supplements miss. By directly targeting micronutrient deficiencies, the program significantly lowers the risks of low birth weight, stillbirths, and early neonatal mortality, ensuring that newborns get a fighting chance and a healthy start from day one. By preventing severe maternal anemia and boosting the immune systems of expectant mothers, this initiative safeguards both maternal and infant health throughout pregnancy and childbirth. Through coordinated scaling strategies and strong partner coalitions, NHSP Sindh remains dedicated to delivering this life-saving nutrition to every mother and child who needs it most.
