In a significant move to address the critical issue of child malnutrition, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has inaugurated a modern Nutrition Stabilization Center at the Benazir Bhutto Children's Hospital in Mardan.
A State-of-the-Art Facility for Vulnerable Children
The new center, officially opened by Provincial Health Minister Khaliqur Rehman, is equipped with eight dedicated beds. Its primary mission is to deliver specialized medical treatment and protein-enriched dietary plans to children battling severe acute malnutrition. The initiative is designed to ensure these vulnerable patients receive high-quality, timely interventions to drastically improve their health and recovery prospects.
The inauguration ceremony saw the presence of key officials and health experts. Notable attendees included Professor Dr. Jawad Ahmad, Dean and CEO of the Medical Teaching Institution Mardan; Colonel (Retd) Dr. Gulzar Ahmed Khan, Hospital Director of Mardan Medical Complex; and Professor Dr. Muhammad Syed, the Medical Director. Representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO) were also present, highlighting the collaborative nature of the project.
WHO Support and Child-Friendly Design
The center was established with comprehensive technical and material assistance from the WHO. This support included providing the beds, essential medical equipment, a specialized nutritionist, and trained support staff. Understanding the needs of young patients, the facility has been thoughtfully designed with a dedicated play area to create a comforting environment. Furthermore, it houses a fully functional kitchen to prepare tailored, protein-rich meals specific to the nutritional requirements of each child.
Government's Commitment to Health Sector Reforms
Addressing the gathering, Health Minister Khaliqur Rehman stressed the government's unwavering commitment to providing immediate and quality healthcare services to the public. "Ensuring that children and families have access to effective medical care remains our top priority," he stated. The Minister pointed out that the health sector in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has undergone substantial reforms and innovation in recent years, leading to marked improvements in performance and service delivery.
Following the inauguration, Minister Rehman took a detailed tour of the hospital, reviewing patient services and receiving briefings from the administration. His visit also included the catheterization laboratory at the Mardan Medical Complex, where officials informed him that over 700 angiography and angioplasty procedures have been successfully conducted there to date.
A Model for the Province's Fight Against Malnutrition
The Nutrition Stabilization Center is poised to become a model facility in the province's strategy to tackle child malnutrition. By integrating direct medical care with focused nutritional rehabilitation, the center aims to significantly reduce the incidence of malnutrition-related illnesses among children in Mardan and neighboring regions.
Concluding his remarks, Minister Rehman reiterated that the government is mobilizing all available resources to offer free, high-quality healthcare. He specifically mentioned programs like the health card initiative, which has benefited hundreds of thousands of residents across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
