By Rehan Khan
KARACHI, Aug 12 (APP): The United States (US) Ambassador Donald Blome on Monday delivered a significant shipment of lifesaving nutrition assistance to Pakistan to combat acute malnutrition among vulnerable populations.
Addressing the event at Maersk Warehouse in Port Qasim, he said the shipment, which includes over 486 metric tons of ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF), is expected to benefit approximately 29,000 Pakistani children suffering from severe acute malnutrition.
Ambassador Blome said the delivery represents a considerable contribution, equivalent in weight to a fully loaded Boeing 747 jumbo jet. More than half of the assistance will be distributed in Sindh province, with the remainder allocated to Balochistan, both of which were heavily impacted by the catastrophic floods of 2022, he added.
Since 2022, he said the US has provided nearly $100 million in assistance to address acute malnutrition in Pakistan, with $15 million specifically allocated for treating severely malnourished children. He said this support also includes emergency food and health care services, benefiting over 317,000 Pakistani mothers and children. He said the US assistance has further bolstered Pakistan’s health infrastructure, enhancing screening and treatment for malnourished children under five, and providing support to women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Ambassador Blome said the US has also trained more than 779,000 frontline health workers in nutrition counseling and caregiving, focusing on optimal feeding practices for infants and young children to prevent malnutrition during the first 1,000 days of life. He said an additional support has been extended to address maternal health needs, including the distribution of delivery equipment and kits to community midwives, improving maternal and newborn health outcomes across Pakistan.
Highlighting the US commitment, he said, “We are committed to standing with Pakistan and its vulnerable communities as millions of families work to recover and rebuild. Addressing malnutrition is a critical part of this effort, and we will continue to provide support to ensure better health outcomes for women and children.”