The National Adolescent Girls Nutrition Project’s Steering Committee convened for the first time on Monday as part of the BISP endeavor. The discussion was chaired by Naveed Akbar, Director General of BISP (NSER/CCT), and focused on the SOPRAN initiative, which uses social protection programs to improve adolescent girls’ nutritional status. This project empowers these girls and enables them to effect positive change in their homes by encouraging improved diet and communication.
Key Participants in the Benazir SOPRAN Project
Representatives from GIZ, Nutrition International, CERP, provincial education and health departments, food authorities, and other national and international partners are among the project’s key participants.
Why the SOPRAN Project is Important for the Health of Adolescent Girls?
Naveed Akbar emphasized the critical importance of addressing pervasive malnutrition among Pakistani adolescent girls throughout the discussion. With over half of these girls suffering from anaemia and many more suffering from other micronutrient deficiencies, this program is projected to have a substantial impact. The project incorporates nutrition into social protection activities by offering iron and folic acid supplements and encouraging collaboration among the health, education, and social protection sectors.
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BISP SOPRAN Project Started in Seven Districts of the Country
The BISP SOPRAN project will start in the following seven districts:
Faisalabad,
Swat,
Shaheed Benazirabad,
Quetta,
Kotli,
Skardu,
and Islamabad
The project will focus on community-led behaviour change initiatives, access to fortified foods, and comprehensive nutrition education in these areas.
Essential Discussions on SOPRAN Project Objectives
Dr. Franz von Roenne of GIZ and other partners highlighted the project’s goals, which included giving iron and folic acid supplements, enhancing wheat flour nutritional quality, and strengthening local nutrition actors’ capacity, health, and education. Discussions also centered on the sustainable integration of nutritional supplements into local food systems. Naveed Akbar finished the conference by highlighting the need for ongoing collaboration and coordination at the district and provincial levels to ensure the project’s success.
Last Words
The SOPRAN project, launched by BISP, aims to enhance adolescent girls’ nutrition in seven areas of Pakistan. The project combats malnutrition and enables young women to make a positive difference in their communities by distributing nutritional supplements and encouraging healthier eating habits.