Karachi, 17 May 2024, (GNP): Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and UNICEF’s Country Representative Abdullah Fadil in their meeting at the CM House have agreed to launch a Child Protection Programme to strengthen fact-based policy and legislation.
The meeting was attended by Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, Secretary School Education Zahid Abbasi, Secretary to CM Raheem Shaikh, Health Secretary Rehan Baloch, Secretary Social Welfare Sajid Jama Abro, and PD Zubair Channa.
The UNICEF ambassadors included Chief Field Officer Prem Chand, Executive Officer Xene, health specialist Dr Kamal and others.
The CM and the UNICEF country chief after a thorough discussion agreed that it would help in developing an environment to strengthen fact-based policy and legislation under child labor survey, child protection policy, birth registration by-laws, child protection against online abuse and exploitation, prevention strategies to decrease child protection violations and harmful traditional practices.
The highlights of the programme for child protection included, prevention of child marriage, parenting packages for positive parent-child interaction, child online protection- ethical and safe use of cyber technology, strengthening of community-based protection structures, service strengthening to deliver equity-based gender-responsive services for children and adolescents, case management and referral system including certified proficiency in information system management (CPMIS), capacity strengthening of the child protection workforce and community-based mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS).
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CM was Informed that UNICEF would support strengthening the health system for resilient, equitable, inclusive , and gender-responsiveness within the framework of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
UNICEF would also support improving Maternal and Neonatal Child Health (MNCH) services for equitable access and utilization.
The meeting agreed that UNICEF would support the health department for the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) for better immunization services for full immunization of all children.
The chief minister and the UNICEF’s country chief agreed to launch a strong nutrition-responsive system in the health department to ensure optimal nutrition for mothers and children, improved nutrition for children, functional multispectral coordination for Early Childhood Development (ECD) and nutrition.
UNICEF also committed $300,000 for a responsive system for which the CM guided the health department to fulfill the requirements so that funds could be oriented.
The chief minister stated that the abolition of polio was his top priority. He added that his government, with the support of UNICEF and other partners, has controlled polio.
CM Shah stated that the health department was working for better integration of EPI and expanded delivery of additional services to priority communities, as well as cultivating opportunities for increased community engagement. Supporting Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) with technical and human support for polio abolition.
The chief minister was informed that UNICEF was working with the school education department on certain initiatives such as the out-of-school children initiative with a focus on social mobilization and institutional strengthening and scale-up of the professional development of teachers.
The chief minister and the UNICEF representative explored the water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) programme.
