World Food Program-Blanket Supplement Feeding Program
Cooperating Partner: |
HEALTH AND NUTRITION DEVELOPMENT SOCIETY (HANDS) |
Province/District: |
Sindh, Pakistan. |
Tharparkar desert in Sindh is the largest desert of Pakistan and the eighteenth largest in the world with an area of 22,000 square kilometers. The population of Tharparkar is approximately 1299735. Tharparkar has six talukas, with 2,365 villages spread across the largest desert.
The provincial government usually declares a state of drought in Thar by September or October when there is low rainfall during and after the monsoon season. However, with moderate to low rainfall occurring until late September last year, the government pushed the announcement forward and provision of relief was thus delayed.
Media reported more than 150 deaths in Tharparkar in first quarter of 2014 and according to PDMA Sindh & NDMA, it was unclear whether the children died from a shortage of food or medical problems, but the region is experiencing lower-than-average rainfall in last three years.
The National Nutrition Survey 2011 reveals more than 70 per cent population in Sindh are facing food insecurity with Thar at the highest ratio because people of this region are poor and constantly migrate to other areas in search of food, water and fodder.
HANDS Pakistan is continuously working in response to drought affected district at Tharparkar for relief and to improve situations of the deprived district. Although HANDS is mobilization resources for the much possible support of the people and is active through conduction of Mobile Medical Camps with support of District Government Health department and also providing CMAM services with support from UNICEF and World Food Programme in two Talukas Mithi including new tehsil Islamkot and Diplo of District Tharparkar as well as distribution of ration/ food bags in affected villages through philanthropist.
As per situation of Tharparkar, Taluka priorities set by the teams and in Mithi, Islamkot & Diplo already covered by HANDS with WFP & UNICEF while remaining area of tehsil Chachro and Dahli are more prone to food insecurity than Nagarparkar tehsil.
After that WFP & HANDS met and decided to blanket coverage of tehsil Chachro and Dahli with Wheat Soya Blend (WSB) to all 6-23m children as well as pregnant women and lactating women having child less than 6months.
WFP signed MoU with HANDS to Blanket supplementary food distribution of 218.67 metric tonnages.
At the end of BSFP activity in which 218.67 metric tonnages WSB distributed in 26562 pregnant and lactating women as well as 34344 children.
During the distribution, awareness raising sessions organized for beneficiaries about the health and hygiene as well as how to use WSB.
There are some fields experiences present that also shareable as the timeline given is very less and the area and distance from the ware house to distribution is very long.
Activity Report
Recent failure of rains and Livestock epidemics has deteriorated the nutritional status of the community badly affecting Children and PLWs.
To address the issue nutrition interventions are mostly considered for vulnerable groups to provide accurate energy gaps.To prevent further nutritional deterioration and related mortality in vulnerable populations and high risk groups “Blanket Supplementary feeding Programme” is the first to be started before setting up CMAM in Taluka Chachro and Dahli.
The population who targeted was “Children 6-23 months of age” and “Pregnant & Lactating Women” by providing specialized nutritious food to all individuals in the target group.
What quantity of WSB Provided:
- PLWs 05Kgs WSB
- Children 6-23 months 2.5Kgs WSB
- Orientation of hired staff at earliest.
After hiring team by HANDS, BSFP team orientation planned and training organized by HANDS & WFP at Mithi. All team oriented about the procedures of distribution and awareness raising session conduction about the health and hygiene.
Team moved to Chachro and where warehouse and sub office established for the distribution of 218.67 metric ton WSB in tehsil Chachro and Dahli. At Chachro team made a plan of distribution and shared with WFP team.
There are total 15teams that initiated work from Chachro tehsil and day by day moved to further areas and covered one UC with 100% coverage. Before moving in field UC mapping done with the local drivers and vaccinators by program manager daily that also shared with WFP regularly. Daily distribution reports and next day plan also shared.
During the distribution BSFP team done and recorded MUAC screening of all pregnant and lactating women as well as children.
Continuous monitoring remained at the field by WFP teams and during those technical inputs about the activity given to the field teams as well as management given. Mr. Tahir WFP office Islamabad also visited the distribution sites and distribution process and they really appreciated the work of HANDS teams in this emergency situation.
HANDS BSFP team completed the WFP-Blanket Supplement Feeding Program (WFP-BSFP) in Taluka Chachro and Taluka Dahli within given time. Team achieved the huge target of 218.67 Metric Tonnage of Wheat Soya Blend (WSB) to all 6-23m children as well as pregnant women and lactating women having child less than 6m after screening them.
In this program 15 union council of tehsil Dahli and Chachro were covered, in which 26562 pregnant and lactating women as well as 34344 children were reached.
Blanket supplementary feeding program started from 15th April 2014 and distribution completed on 26th April 2014
Learning’s & challenges
- Huge Distances from the ware house to distribution points that’s why needed more time in providing commodities at peripheries for distribution. If commodities may reach at Kheensar Taluka headquarter of Dahli that may lead
- Limited short time but the team done within time limit.
- In some villages due to religious influences, population can’t receive WSB as they refused to get due to USA flag printed on it.