The Nutrition International (NI) organized a provincial orientation workshop on Tuesday for journalists and media personnel on diarrhea prevention and management in children younger than five years. The workshop focused on the harmful effects of diarrhea in child growth and nutrition. It was held to sensitize the audience on utilization of mass media in influencing knowledge and thereby changing behaviours.
The workshop is aimed at enhancing the capacity building of journalists regarding the impact diarrhea illness has on children, and how significant a role can they play in increasing awareness to the masses through effective reporting of cases associated with diarrhea and by educating the general public on adapting the necessary preventive measures.
On this occasion, Additional Director General Health Sindh Dr Waqar Mehmood hailed the efforts of NI to promote the awareness diarrhea diseases and said: "Pakistan is ranked amongst the top seven countries with the highest number of diarrhea cases, and the increasing number of deaths associated to it. It is imperative that our countrymen should understand the importance of health and nutrition of children, and adapt all necessary measures to prevent deaths caused as a result of these illnesses."
Provincial Manager Nutrition International Dr Fatima Saad highlighted the need for programs addressing child health, and especially diarrhea in Pakistan. The NI is conducting a capacity development program in collaboration with LHW program in Sindh to support the use of ORS and Zinc managements of diarrhea.
While introducing the work that the NI is conducting in promoting evidence and improving services through capacity building, and provision of commodities, she emphasized the role of media in supporting the health department, and other non-governmental agencies in addressing child health issues. The NI is working on fortification and supplementation to address hidden hunger among women and children from the marginalized segment of society.