Nutrition initiative benefits over 360,000 adolescent girls

ISLAMABAD, Apr 08 (APP):More than 360,000 adolescent girls have benefited from a dedicated health and nutrition initiative under the ‘Social Protection for Health and Climate Resilience’ project implemented by the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP).

According to documents available with Wealth Pakistan, the initiative by German Development Bank KfW was implemented in six selected districts, focusing on improving the health and nutritional status of girls aged 13-19 particularly in vulnerable and climate-hit areas.

Under the programme, eligible participants received conditional cash transfers of up to Rs2,000 per quarter. The financial assistance was linked to compliance with key health conditions, including regular intake of iron and folic acid supplements and participation in awareness sessions on nutrition and wellbeing. These measures aimed to address widespread micronutrient deficiencies and promote healthier lifestyles among adolescent girls.

Initially, the initiative set a target to reach around 104,303 girls by mid-2025. However, it significantly surpassed this goal, with 361,459 beneficiaries already enrolled. Of these, more than 124,000 were newly registered participants, indicating strong expansion and increased outreach of the programme.

With a total allocation of €2 million, the focused intervention was a key pillar of the broader project, which seeks to integrate social protection with health and climate resilience strategies in Pakistan.

By targeting adolescent girls at a critical stage of development, the initiative is expected to generate long-term benefits, including better maternal health outcomes, lower rates of malnutrition, and enhanced resilience at the community level. The programme reflects a growing policy emphasis on preventive healthcare and social protection measures to safeguard vulnerable populations against the impacts of climate change.