WASHINGTON: The Foundation of the Junaid family has signed a letter of historical cooperation (LOC) with the Gates Foundation and UNICEF to strengthen collaboration on promotion and scaling of multiple micronutrient supplementation (MMS) for women in Pakistan, with a particular emphasis on maternal and newborn health.
Although Pakistan is already a world leader in the MMS scale, this LOC formalizes the current partnership focused on the widening of access to MMS for all pregnant women, the strengthening of supply chains, support for research and implementation and growing national implementation to maternal malnutrition. It is estimated that 7 million women fall pregnant in Pakistan each year.
The joint donation of MMS Unimap by JFF and humanitarian Kirk has reached nearly 2 million women, but important work remains to fill the gap and make sure that all women who need this vital supplement have access to it.
“We are honored to work hand in hand with world leaders such as Gates Foundation and Unicef to defend maternal health in Pakistan. The deep experience they have of the implementation of MMS in the world completes our ability to open doors and navigate on specific networks in Pakistan. ” said Ansir Junaid, president of the Junaid Family Foundation who recently organized a large conference in Islamabad to promote MMS for women in Pakistan.
“This collaboration is rooted in our conviction that each mother deserves the nutrition she needs for a healthy pregnancy – and each child deserves a good start in life.”
He explained: “The fields of intervention of this partnership include advice and collaboration with the government authorities concerned to promote policy and decision -making focused on evidence that supports MMS assistance to pregnant women in Pakistan at the federal and provincial levels; providing technical assistance and support for the conquest of meetings of the strategic and technical working group to MMS to advance local production, quality, quality and measurement; MMS in partnership with the private sector.
“Nutrition kindergarten, including deficiencies in essential vitamins and minerals, remains a critical public health problem in Pakistan. MMS has become an approved solution in the world, proven to reduce birth weight, mortinagances and maternal anemia.
Representatives of the three organizations stressed the importance of supported multisectoral efforts, in coordination with the ministries of federal, state and provincial health, to ensure that MMS reach women who need it most, especially in poorly served and highlight districts.
“It’s a moment of hope and momentum,” said Jackie Range, executive director of JFF. “We are proud to contribute not only to resources, but also to a deep and long -term commitment to the construction of systems that support maternal nutrition as a right – not a privilege. Our concentration on nutrition is not an act of charity – it is a strategic investment. To build healthier communities, a stronger fuel of savings and conduct lasting changes between generations, we must start with appropriate nutrition. ”
During a recent dinner organized by JFF in Islamabad, Pakistan, president of JFF Ansir Junaid was joined by Zeina Sifri, main program officer in Gates, and Abdullah Fadil, representative of the country of Unicef to sign the letter of cooperation. This partnership reflects the common objectives of the three organizations to promote health equity, advance sustainable development and build resilient health systems that center the needs of women and children, said Ansir Junaid.
The Gates Foundation is a global non -profit organization that works to combat poverty, diseases and inequalities in the world. Thanks to partnerships, innovation and data -based solutions, the Foundation seeks to create a lasting change. Gates is an active contributor to Child Nutrition Fund, providing MMs to the countries of the world. The Junaid family foundation works both locally in Cleveland, Ohio and abroad in Pakistan. Thanks to various initiatives by focusing on health care and development, education, equity and diversity and civic engagement, JFF seeks to transform generational poverty and sowing seeds of future prosperity. JFF is currently supporting the largest MMS program in Pakistan.
