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<strong>Volume</strong> 6, <strong>Issue</strong> 2<br />

<strong>Child</strong> <strong>Writes</strong><br />

Tando Allahyar : Srosh Anwar / Save the <strong>Child</strong>ren<br />

Quarterly Newsletter<br />

June 2017


Quarterly newsletter<br />

Message from the CD<br />

Case Study: Aleena Atta<br />

RHC Rahimabad QIT<br />

1<br />

2<br />

3<br />

CONTENTS<br />

Case Study: Ghari Hassan's first delivery in five years<br />

ILC's QITs become part of District Health Council<br />

Op-Ed: <strong>Child</strong> Labour in Thar<br />

Trauma Centre inaugurated in Lodhran<br />

<strong>Child</strong> Focused Health Education in Lodhran<br />

Stolen <strong>Child</strong>hoods Report Launch<br />

LHWs receive identity cards for the first time in Shaheed Benazirabad District<br />

4<br />

5<br />

6<br />

7<br />

8<br />

9<br />

10<br />

Quarterly Highlights<br />

Photography Tips<br />

11<br />

12


Quarterly newsletter<br />

MESSAGE FROM COUNTRY DIRECTOR<br />

Dear colleagues,<br />

Welcome to Save the <strong>Child</strong>ren's second quarterly newsletter!<br />

Working closely with the government is key to realising the goals set out in<br />

our CSP; this edition of the newsletter features highlights from our work in<br />

Lodhran where we introduced child focused health education, identification<br />

cards for Lady Health Workers and inaugurated a trauma centre.<br />

You will also find coverage of the Stolen <strong>Child</strong>hoods Report launched by Save<br />

the <strong>Child</strong>ren on 1st June – International <strong>Child</strong>ren's Day. The report, the first in<br />

an annual series, explores the major reasons why childhood comes to an early<br />

end by focusing on a set of life changing events that signal the disruption of<br />

childhood and ranking 172 countries based on where childhood is most intact<br />

and where it is most eroded. Pakistan did not fare well in the report in terms of<br />

the high number of malnourished infants and children and the number of<br />

children of school going age who are not enrolled in formal schooling systems.<br />

These facts are not news to us, but should act as an indicator of the direction<br />

we should be headed in. Indeed our excellent track record, both in education<br />

themed projects and our work with malnourished children and women, position<br />

us well in this regard. We have also recently submitted a proposal for a project<br />

focusing on out-of-school girls in Pakistan and are hopeful of a positive<br />

outcome.<br />

This edition of the newsletter also features two very interesting case studies<br />

from Lodhran and Jacobabad. Both these stories represent milestones for Save<br />

the <strong>Child</strong>ren Pakistan in the areas of gender equality, education for girls and<br />

maternal and child health. Stories like these serve as constant reminders that<br />

positive change is just around the corner, as long as we work diligently towards<br />

our goals.<br />

Happy reading!<br />

Nayyar Iqbal<br />

Country Director<br />

Save the <strong>Child</strong>ren<br />

Page<br />

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Quarterly newsletter<br />

COMMUNITY ORGANISATION<br />

SAVES ALEENA FROM CHILD MARRIAGE<br />

Abdul Qayyum<br />

Aleena Atta, 14 years old, is a student of grade 7. She lives in a small house in Sharpur<br />

village with five other family members. Her village is situated in the Union Council<br />

Sumra of the Lodhran District, Punjab. Aleena's father passed away when she was very<br />

young and her mother re-married. Aleena was engaged at the age of 13 and her fiancé's<br />

family demanded that the marriage should take place a year later, to which her<br />

stepfather agreed.<br />

Aleena wanted to study – she couldn't imagine getting married at such an early<br />

age, moving away from her family and giving up school. However, living in a deeply<br />

patriarchal society, she couldn't dare oppose her step father's decision.<br />

Besides, preparations for Aleena's wedding were already underway. Aleena found it very<br />

hard to study and go about her everyday life – the life of a 13 year old girl.<br />

The Improving the Lives of <strong>Child</strong>ren (ILC) project, run by Save the <strong>Child</strong>ren, focuses on<br />

protecting children in the Lodhran District. In September 2015, Aleena's mother, Sughra<br />

Bibi, joined a community organisation in her village, which was formed as part of the ILC<br />

project. She also attended various training and awareness sessions, including one on<br />

child marriages and their complications. She also learnt about the details of the Punjab<br />

Marriage Restraint (Amendment) Act 2015.<br />

On the basis of her new found knowledge, Aleena's mother reasoned with her husband<br />

to postpone Aleena's marriage until she turns 18 and finishes high school. It took a while,<br />

but she was able to convince him that child marriages are the cause of irreversible<br />

damage and can harm more than one generation. Aleena's step-father discussed this<br />

with Aleena's in-laws to be, and talked them into delaying the marriage. Finally, the two<br />

families agreed to prolong the engagement until Aleena turned 18. Aleena has now<br />

happily resumed her former life and attends school regularly. Aleena says:<br />

Aleena on her way back from school<br />

Lodhran: Abdul Qayyum / Save the <strong>Child</strong>ren<br />

I was very worried about my future. Everywhere I<br />

turned, there was talk of my wedding – even my friends<br />

had started planning songs and dances for my<br />

wedding. I am very happy now and I want to continue<br />

my studies even after the 10th grade. There is no<br />

female doctor in our village or in the nearby villages; I<br />

want to become a doctor and work in my village so<br />

that girls and women can get proper medical care.<br />

Page<br />

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Quarterly newsletter<br />

QIT at Rahimabad's health centre<br />

sets an example<br />

Imran Ali Soomro<br />

the improvement of health services at facility level, enhance<br />

coordination and build each other's capacity. The QITs especially<br />

focus on including women, people with disabilities and<br />

adolescents to create an inclusive environment.<br />

Before Save the <strong>Child</strong>ren's intervention, RHC Rahimabad was<br />

barely functional. The staff wasn't enough and on most days, they<br />

stayed absent. There were no separate wards or female doctor<br />

for women. The local community had to travel a very long way to<br />

access health services in nearby cities.<br />

CMO Munawara during her routine session at RHC Rahimabad<br />

Shikarpur: Imran Ali Soomro / Save the <strong>Child</strong>ren<br />

To provide better services to beneficiaries and patients within<br />

limited resources, the Quality Improvement Team (QIT) at Rural<br />

Health Centre (RHC) Rahimabad is playing a vital role. There are<br />

eight QITs which were established under the Integrated<br />

Maternal Newborn <strong>Child</strong> Health (IMNCH) project in districts<br />

Shikarpur and Jacobabad in Sindh. RHC Rahimabad is one of<br />

them.<br />

QITs comprise of members of the community, health staff and<br />

local authorities and the objective behind their creation is to<br />

establish a common platform for health service providers and<br />

local community where they could share the responsibilities for<br />

The QIT for RHC Rahimabad was formed on 3rd September,<br />

2016. Since then, the patients and local community have observed<br />

visible changes as issues which the health staff and community<br />

had been facing since long were resolved mutually through the<br />

QIT's platform. With support from Save the <strong>Child</strong>ren, a Woman<br />

Medical Officer (WMO) has been appointed. The maternity ward<br />

is now operational with latest machinery and medicines, and an<br />

ultrasound machine is also available now. The Out Patient<br />

Department (OPD) has been made free at the facility and is now<br />

open during evenings too. As a result, the daily attendance in the<br />

OPD has risen from 150 to 250 patients.<br />

Niaz Ahmed Sohandiro is a member of the RHC's QIT and also<br />

works as a Polio Officer in Union Council Garhi Dakho for the<br />

World Health Organisation. He says:<br />

It gets very hot during summer in our area and there<br />

was no facility to provide clean water to the patients and<br />

visitors in RHC Rahimabad. After the QIT's formation,<br />

the team pooled in resources to provide two water<br />

coolers in the male and female sections. We have also<br />

formed a committee to meet the expenses for ice, which<br />

costs Rs.100 daily.”<br />

Currently, there are 20 teams from 5 different areas<br />

working under Niaz's supervision to create awareness<br />

regarding better maternal and child healthcare,<br />

including messages on interpersonal communication<br />

and routine immunisation, in villages during polio<br />

campaigns. The QIT is also in touch with different NGOs<br />

to obtain financial support for the construction of the<br />

facility's boundary wall.<br />

QIT Members Corner meeting with MS Dr Zubairi Soomro<br />

Shikarpur: Imran Ali Soomro / Save the <strong>Child</strong>ren<br />

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Quarterly newsletter<br />

GARHI HASSAN'S HEALTH FACILITY<br />

WELCOMES FIRST DELIVERY IN FIVE YEARS<br />

Fizza Bangash<br />

through the provision of medical supplies, repair and<br />

maintenance, and water and power solutions to support the<br />

delivery of quality obstetric, newborn and child health services.<br />

RHC Garhi Hassan was in shambles when Save the <strong>Child</strong>ren<br />

started its operations there. It neither had the medical<br />

equipment nor the staff required to care for pregnant mothers<br />

and deliver babies. There was no delivery room, no female ward,<br />

and very few medicines. Resultantly, women in Garhi Hassan<br />

and nearby villages never got a chance to consult a doctor<br />

during their pregnancies due to the associated medical and<br />

logistical costs.<br />

Fehmida's daughter was the first child delivered in RHC Garhi Hassan in 5 years<br />

Jacobabad: Fizza Bangash / Save the <strong>Child</strong>ren 2017<br />

37 years old Fehmida lives in village Garhi Hassan in Jacobabad<br />

District, Sindh. At first glance, she comes across as an ordinary<br />

woman from the village, but in fact she represents a unique<br />

breakthrough for Save the <strong>Child</strong>ren's project on maternal and<br />

child health in Sindh. Her daughter was the first child to be<br />

delivered in Garhi Hassan's Rural Health Centre (RHC) in five<br />

years.<br />

Fehmida got married when she was only 15 to Ghulam Nabi<br />

who is a year older than her. Together they have six children,<br />

including three daughters and three sons. Fehmida gave birth to<br />

all her children at home with the help of a midwife until her<br />

deteriorating health forced her to see a doctor for her most<br />

recent, pregnancy. Fehmida was experiencing severe nausea,<br />

back ache, body ache and weakness. Ultimately, she went for<br />

her first antenatal visit in the 7th month of the pregnancy to a<br />

private clinic in Taluka Thul. The doctor charged PKR 1500 for<br />

the check up and the ride to the clinic cost Fehmida an<br />

additional PKR 200. She took the medicines the doctor<br />

prescribed but they did not make any difference to her<br />

condition. She consulted another private doctor in the city but<br />

the doctor neither paid any attention to what she had to say<br />

nor did the medicines he prescribed work on her.<br />

Fortunately, a doctor Ghulam once visited for a check-up,<br />

advised him to take Fehmida to the recently refurbished RHC in<br />

Garhi Hassan. Save the <strong>Child</strong>ren's Integrated Maternal,<br />

Newborn and <strong>Child</strong> Health (IMNCH) project started in Sindh in<br />

2016. A major part of the Project was the refurbishment of 12<br />

targeted health facilities in districts Jacobabad and Shikarpur<br />

Fehmida first visited RHC Garhi Hassan in her 9th month. The<br />

facility was just a 10 minutes' drive from her house. The doctor<br />

performed a detailed check-up, gave her medication to manage<br />

the pain and told her to come in two weeks on her due date.<br />

Fehmida's baby was delivered normally without any<br />

complications and both the mother and the baby were<br />

discharged after being kept under observation for two hours.<br />

They were also provided a date for a follow-up visit.<br />

Unfortunately, Fehmida's daughter passed away two days after<br />

her birth. She developed complications in her urethra due to<br />

which she was unable to pass out urine. The health facility did<br />

not have the necessary equipment or expertise to resolve this<br />

issue, so Fehmida took her to a private clinic in Thul, but the<br />

doctors could not do much and she passed away shortly after.<br />

This incident has left Fehmida shook, but has also produced in<br />

her a resolve to ensure that her remaining children get access<br />

to quality healthcare, whenever needed. She received counselling<br />

on birth spacing, quality nutrition for mother and kids and good<br />

hygiene from a Lady Health Worker (LHW) at Garhi Hassan.<br />

She has started taking pills and will soon be opting for a birth<br />

spacing method for the long term. Her husband and mother in<br />

law fully support her decision.<br />

This experience has taught me a lot about proper<br />

healthcare. During my check-ups, the doctor and staff<br />

at Garhi Hassan answered all my questions and took<br />

very good care of me. Everything was provided free of<br />

charge. I wish I had come here earlier. Now I know that<br />

to deliver and raise healthy children, it is important for<br />

the mother to be health first, Fehmida adds.<br />

Page<br />

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Quarterly newsletter<br />

ILC's Quality Improvement<br />

Teams become part of<br />

District's Health Councils<br />

Farman Khan<br />

According to a recent reform in Punjab's local government system, each District Health Department is legally bound to<br />

create a health council at all Basic Health Unit (BHU) levels. The health council will serve as an independent body that will<br />

oversee all the operational and development work of the concerned health facility through the funds allocated by the<br />

government.<br />

Save the <strong>Child</strong>ren in Pakistan saw this as an opportunity to engage its Quality Improvement Teams (QITs) under the<br />

Improving the Lives of <strong>Child</strong>ren (ILC) project in Cotton Growing Districts of Pakistan. The project team held discussions<br />

with District Lodhran's health department to include one member from each QIT in every concerned health council and<br />

submitted a formal request to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Health, Lodhran. Based on Save the <strong>Child</strong>ren's work in the<br />

district and the field team's excellent relationship with the local government, the Office of the CEO accepted the request.<br />

This comes as big success for Save the <strong>Child</strong>ren as it has enabled the QIT's entry into the local body system that is<br />

independent and influential. QIT members are already trained on various health issues and have the capacity to advocate<br />

for Maternal and <strong>Child</strong> Health (MNCH) services at district level. Going forward, the ILC Project team plans to strengthen its<br />

coordination with the health councils and increase their capacity to work on different health issues. This will help Save the<br />

<strong>Child</strong>ren leave behind a sustainable system to advocate and resolve health issues after the Project ends.<br />

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Quarterly newsletter<br />

<strong>Child</strong> Labour in Thar Desert - A source of<br />

income or exploitation of children's rights?<br />

Om Parkash Pragani<br />

A girl weaving cloth on a floor loom at a local factory in Thar<br />

Tharparkar: Om Prakash Pragani / Save the <strong>Child</strong>ren<br />

Poverty and child labour are intrinsically interlinked, at least in<br />

Pakistan, and the existence of both is a persistent and an oft<br />

ignored issue in the country. Tharparkar, commonly known as Thar,<br />

is one of the 29 districts in the province of Sindh, situated in south<br />

eastern Pakistan. It is one of the driest and hottest places in the<br />

country, making it particularly hard for locals to grow food<br />

through farming and cultivation. The area is fraught with famine<br />

and drought, and sources of income are very limited. Such<br />

conditions have given a rise to child labour in Thar.<br />

The poverty and vulnerability of the local community in Thar force<br />

them to use every means available to generate money, and<br />

children are forced into labour at a very young age to support<br />

their families. Moreover, the deeply rooted caste-system and social<br />

inequality often push landless tenants and their families into<br />

bonded labour.<br />

The socio-economic indicators of bonded and marginalised<br />

families depict a dismal scenario. As part of my MPhil, I authored a<br />

research study titled "<strong>Child</strong> labour and poverty in District<br />

Tharparkar" for which I surveyed children engaged in labour in<br />

Thar. The study revealed that 94% of surveyed households have<br />

working children, out of which around 75% were boys while the<br />

remaining were girls. Out of these working children, 42% of<br />

children work more than four hours a<br />

day while 70% of them did not go to<br />

school. The children also complained<br />

of the harsh and hectic working<br />

conditions. 80% of the surveyed<br />

households were found to be under<br />

heavy debt, and majority had taken<br />

loans to meet their expenses. 43.5 %<br />

of loans were taken to buy food, 15%<br />

for medical treatments, 14% for<br />

marriages or funeral arrangements<br />

while 6.7% of loans were taken to<br />

generate income through other<br />

means and small businesses.<br />

This data can be really useful in<br />

researching this situation further,<br />

while keeping in mind the following<br />

recommendations.<br />

While child labour is a crime according to law, there<br />

needs to be more awareness raising in the community<br />

regarding the law and the repercussions of breaking it.<br />

Steps to abolish child labour should be supported with<br />

provision of schools for children, marketing linkages for<br />

local occupations and crafts by making communities the<br />

owner of their businesses, thus preventing from external<br />

exploitation<br />

There is a need for consistent lobbying and advocacy to<br />

minimise child labour in Thar particularly, and in Sindh<br />

generally, by ensuring the proactive involvement of<br />

district and provincial government authorities and other<br />

decision makers.<br />

Facilitate and sensitise the government to take steps to<br />

get workers out of debt and bonded slavery through the<br />

provision of funds and monitoring committees.<br />

Easy micro-financing facilities should be made available<br />

to those who are willing to start their own businesses.<br />

Page<br />

6


Quarterly newsletter<br />

SC Pakistan Country Director attends<br />

inauguration of Trauma Centre in Lodhran<br />

Fizza Bangash and Farman Khan<br />

centre at a cost of around PKR 60 million. The Centre aims<br />

to provide easy access and effective healthcare to trauma<br />

patients from districts Lodhran, Multan and Bahawalpur,<br />

and particularly to provide care to victims of road accident<br />

on the Multan-Bahwalpur Highway.<br />

Save the <strong>Child</strong>ren has strong ties with the local<br />

government in Lodhran due to its project titled “Improving<br />

Lives of <strong>Child</strong>ren in Cotton Growing Areas – District<br />

Lodhran” (ILC). Building on these ties, the Department of<br />

Health (DoH) requested Save the <strong>Child</strong>ren's support in<br />

establishing the trauma centre, in response to which Save<br />

the <strong>Child</strong>ren collaborated with the Public Welfare<br />

Organisation (PWO) to provide equipment, medicines,<br />

medical supplies and instruments. Nayyar Iqbal also<br />

promised to donate an ambulance to the trauma centre.<br />

Nayyar Iqbal, SC Pakistan Country Director, inaugurating the Makhdoom Aali Trauma Centre in Lodhran<br />

Lodhran: Field staff / Save the <strong>Child</strong>ren<br />

Save the <strong>Child</strong>ren's Country Director in Pakistan, Nayyar Iqbal,<br />

attended the formal inauguration ceremony of the Makhdoom<br />

Aali Trauma Centre in Lodhran on April 6, 2017. Deputy<br />

Commissioner (DC), Lodhran, Khurrum Shahzad was the guest<br />

of honour at the ceremony. Also in attendance was Abdul<br />

Rehman Kanju, Member of National Assembly (MNA).<br />

There was an urgent need for a trauma centre, equipped with<br />

modern healthcare facilities to the community and deal with<br />

emergency cases, in Lodhran and nearby districts. Responding to<br />

the demand, the Government of Punjab established the trauma<br />

The trauma centre will also add value to the ILC project, as<br />

patients from communities where the Project is being<br />

implemented will be able to get medical treatment there.<br />

Save the <strong>Child</strong>ren's project in Lodhran is based around the<br />

areas of child protection, quality education and, maternal<br />

SC Pakistan Country Director Nayyar Iqbal at the inauguration ceremony of the Gillani Conference<br />

Hall in Old Hospital Lodhran: Field staff / Save the <strong>Child</strong>ren<br />

and child health. It aims to help children exercise their right to<br />

survival, development, protection and participation; and to<br />

demonstrate a model of a holistic child protection system<br />

cognizant of the rural context.<br />

SC Pakistan Country Director Nayyar Iqbal visiting a school in Lodhran<br />

Lodhran: Field staff / Save the <strong>Child</strong>ren<br />

Later, the Deputy Commissioner and Save the <strong>Child</strong>ren's<br />

Country Director also attended the inauguration ceremony of a<br />

conference hall at a hospital in Lodhran. Save the <strong>Child</strong>ren<br />

supported the hospital by providing of furniture, multimedia<br />

equipment, air conditioners and other necessary items for the<br />

new conference hall.<br />

Page<br />

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Quarterly newsletter<br />

Save the <strong>Child</strong>ren initiates<br />

<strong>Child</strong> Focused Health Education in Lodhran<br />

Farman Khan<br />

Government staff during nutrition training on <strong>Child</strong> Focused Health Education methodology.<br />

Lodhran: Field staff / Save the <strong>Child</strong>ren<br />

<strong>Child</strong> Focused Health Education (CFHE) is an initiative of Save<br />

the <strong>Child</strong>ren which promotes children's participation in all health<br />

promotion activities in school and at home. This methodology<br />

develops critical thinking, problem solving and decision making<br />

skills, communication and empathy in children.<br />

Save the <strong>Child</strong>ren in implementing this intervention in 200<br />

government primary schools of district Lodhran as part of IKEAfunded<br />

project. 400 school teachers have been trained on CFHE<br />

and they are conducting sessions for school children on weekly<br />

basis. The CFHE curriculum includes the following 14 topics: clean<br />

hands, safe drinking water, intestinal worms, dengue, malaria,<br />

menstruation, hygiene management, cough and cold, diarrhea,<br />

iodised salt, flies, clean teeth, eyesight, hearing, balanced diet.<br />

The Project is being implemented in close coordination with the<br />

district government and its sustainability is a major consideration<br />

for all parties. For this purpose, the district government requested<br />

the project team to train 43 School Health and Nutrition<br />

Supervisors on CFHE methodology and now they will be<br />

engaged in monitoring these sessions in 200 project targeted<br />

schools and replicate the same in all other schools of the district.<br />

Engaging these supervisors will ensure sustainability of CFHE<br />

and will also help to scale up the project on a district level. The<br />

district government has vowed to ensure that the school teachers<br />

conduct the sessions on a weekly basis and raise awareness of<br />

children on critical health issues.<br />

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Quarterly newsletter<br />

SAVE THE CHILDREN LAUNCHES<br />

STOLEN CHILDHOODS REPORT<br />

Fizza Bangash<br />

For at least 700 million children worldwide – and perhaps<br />

hundreds of millions more – childhood has ended too soon. For<br />

nearly a century, Save the <strong>Child</strong>ren has been fighting to save<br />

children from poverty and discrimination. As a part of this effort,<br />

Save the <strong>Child</strong>ren launched the End of <strong>Child</strong>hood Report 2017<br />

titled 'Stolen <strong>Child</strong>hoods'– the first in an annual series – on June<br />

1 on International <strong>Child</strong>ren's Day. The report shines a light on<br />

the harsh realities faced by the most vulnerable and excluded<br />

children and reveals that in many parts of the world, children<br />

can hardly expect any childhood at all. The End of <strong>Child</strong>hood<br />

Index explores the major reasons why childhood comes to an<br />

early end by focusing on a set of life changing events that signal<br />

the disruption of childhood. It ranks 172 countries based on<br />

where childhood is most intact and where it is most eroded.<br />

Save the <strong>Child</strong>ren launched the End of <strong>Child</strong>hood Report 2017 on June 1 on International <strong>Child</strong>ren's Day<br />

Artwork: Ihsan Ullah / Save the <strong>Child</strong>ren<br />

Save the <strong>Child</strong>ren in Pakistan, in collaboration with <strong>Child</strong> Rights<br />

Movement (CRM), organised a press conference for the report's<br />

launch, which was attended by CRM members as well as<br />

journalists from Dawn News, The Tribune, Capital TV, The News,<br />

Duniya TV and Voice of Pakistan. A short session was organised<br />

where CRM members discussed the background of the report<br />

and the current situation of children in Pakistan, and distributed<br />

the media toolkit for the launch, including a press release and a<br />

copy of the report, among media representatives. The report<br />

received online, print and broadcast coverage from several<br />

newspapers and channels. Save the <strong>Child</strong>ren in Pakistan also ran<br />

a social media campaign with CRM to engage audiences and<br />

increase the reach of the report.<br />

The report also sheds light on the dismal condition of children in<br />

Pakistan. According to the End of <strong>Child</strong>hood Index, Pakistan<br />

ranks 148 out of 172 countries. 10.7% of the world's stunted<br />

children live in Pakistan while 45% of children in the country are<br />

severely malnourished. Pakistan has an under-five mortality of<br />

81 per 1,000 live births, whereby most children die of<br />

preventable or treatable causes. 42.9% children in Pakistan of<br />

primary and secondary school age are out of school. These<br />

numbers highlight the many areas Pakistan is lacking in terms of<br />

protecting its children and providing them a healthy childhood.<br />

To read the report, visit :<br />

www.endofchildhood.org<br />

and to donate and sign a petition calling on<br />

governments to increase investment in<br />

children, please visit:<br />

http://bit.ly/2qLZHtS.<br />

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Quarterly newsletter<br />

CHAON GIVES LHWs IDENTITY CARDS<br />

THE FIRST TIME IN<br />

SHAHEED BENAZIRABAD DISTRICT<br />

Farman Khan<br />

FOR<br />

LHWs and LHSs receiving their card in the District Health Department<br />

Shaheed Benazirabad: Field staff / Save the <strong>Child</strong>ren<br />

The LHWs program authority raised this issue in a District<br />

Health Management Team (DHMT) meeting. The CHAON<br />

project team suggested that all LHWs and LHSs should be<br />

provided identity cards to enable quick and authentic<br />

identification by the community. The District Health Officer<br />

(DHO) assigned this task to CHAON project team and<br />

requested them to print cards with logos of the District Health<br />

Department, Save the <strong>Child</strong>ren, DevCon and CHAON. Save the<br />

<strong>Child</strong>ren printed a total of 1300 cards for LHWs and LHSs of<br />

District Shaheed Benazirabad and handed these over to the<br />

District Health Department for distribution.<br />

A sample LHW card – Picture by member field staff, Shaheed Benazirabad District, Sindh<br />

Now, all LHWs and LHSs use their identity cards during<br />

field visits and are more easily trusted and identified by<br />

the local community.<br />

Lady Health Workers (LHWs) and Lady Health Supervisors<br />

(LHSs) in Sindh's Shaheed Benazirabad District were facing<br />

issues in performing their duties as the community did not allow<br />

them to enter their houses and vaccinate the children as they<br />

were unsure of who the LHWs were or which organisation they<br />

represented.<br />

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10


Quarterly newsletter<br />

QUARTERLY HIGHLIGHTS<br />

WINS Thatta<br />

32,202 under-5 children screened, 2,605 children identified as severely<br />

malnourished and 2,511 identified as moderately acute malnourished.<br />

3,443 children cured through the Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP).<br />

218 severely malnourished children with medical complications admitted into<br />

the Nutrition stabilisation centres (107 at THQ, Sujawal, and 111 at DHQ,<br />

Thatta).<br />

11,806 children dewormed, 8,671 children referred for Expanded Program on<br />

Immunisation (EPI) vaccination, 1172 children treated through the OTP<br />

program.<br />

4,671 pregnant women referred for antenatal care, 1,616 lactating females<br />

referred for postnatal care and 4,663 women referred for Tetanus Toxoid (TT)<br />

vaccination.<br />

5,547 children referred for polio vaccine during polio campaign from OTP<br />

sites.<br />

Simple Rapid Basement (SRA) done for 5976 females and they were<br />

counselled for Infant and young child feeding (IYCF).<br />

Increased food security and resilience of vulnerable communities in<br />

Sanghar, Sindh<br />

Social infrastructure in 120 communities in Sanghar District strengthened for<br />

increased resilience to reduce the impact of current and mitigate risks of<br />

future disasters.<br />

Registered all six Community Based Organisations (CBOs ) with the Social<br />

Welfare Department and equipped all offices with office material and<br />

documents<br />

Trained 175 provincial government officials on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)<br />

and including it in planning and implementation stages in their respective<br />

departments.<br />

Distribution of in kind support to 30 small business beneficiaries<br />

Refresher training session on key messages of improved agricultural practices<br />

conducted for 1,800 farmers.<br />

WINS Shikarpur<br />

12 Department of Health (DoH) staff members trained on supply chain<br />

management; 16 DoH and People's Primary Healthcare Initiative (PPHI) staff<br />

members trained on data management.<br />

Presented key interventions in planning and implementation stage for<br />

adolescent nutrition in Pakistan in a national level consultative workshop<br />

organised by the Ministry of Health and WHO.<br />

District Health Officer, Nutrition Focal Person, District Coordinator National<br />

Program and EPI focal person conducted two supportive supervision visits.<br />

IT equipment handed over to Provincial Nutrition Cell for Nutrition<br />

Information System strengthening.<br />

IMNCH<br />

Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) ward inaugurated in District Health Quarter<br />

(DHQ), Shikarpur; service providers from 12 health facilities trained on KMC<br />

technique.<br />

229 QIT members (151 men, 78 women) trained on basic concepts of gender<br />

and disability.<br />

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11


Quarterly newsletter<br />

Hospital Preparedness (HOPE) training conducted for district health<br />

authorities, 290 community members and health service providers at 12 target<br />

facilities. Firefighting and disaster drills under HOPE organised at 12 target<br />

health facilities in districts Shikarpur and Jacobabad.<br />

Repair and renovation work completed in all target health facilities. Alternate<br />

solar electricity supply provided at target health facilities for labour room and<br />

EPI storage.<br />

QUARTERLY HIGHLIGHTS<br />

SIDA CP/CRG<br />

Save the <strong>Child</strong>ren kicked off a five year project funded by the Swedish<br />

International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), and it is being<br />

implemented in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Shikarpur, Larkana, and Dadu. To<br />

orient partners on project interventions and Save the <strong>Child</strong>ren's support<br />

system policies, a workshop was conducted in Lahore and Karachi for all nine<br />

partners. Moreover, DCHD conducted a five day workshop on Understanding<br />

<strong>Child</strong> Rights Framework in Lahore which was attended by 23 representatives<br />

of different CSOs.<br />

Family Planning and Post Abortion Care (FP and PAC)<br />

Three days training organised on post abortion care and family planning for<br />

18 participants (9 from Save the <strong>Child</strong>ren and 9 from DoH, Shikarpur).<br />

252 LHWs trained on long acting reversible contraceptive and communication<br />

skills.<br />

Save the <strong>Child</strong>ren set up a stall with audio/video arrangements and a<br />

counselling counter in the local fair organised by the Population Welfare<br />

Department (PWD) Sindh in Jacobabad District.<br />

Tips for Photography<br />

Real Dynamism<br />

Rich Narrative<br />

Authentic Emotion<br />

Use of Colour<br />

Don'ts<br />

Don't use 'staged' imagery<br />

shot in a studio<br />

Avoid overly-upsetting<br />

imagery where there is no<br />

hope<br />

Don't use cut-out imagery<br />

with no context<br />

GET A CHANCE TO FEATURE IN<br />

THE NEXT NEWSLETTER!<br />

Do you want to highlight an achievement<br />

of your project, share a success story or<br />

write a blog on a topic related to Save<br />

the <strong>Child</strong>ren's work in Pakistan?<br />

Simply submit your entries at the<br />

following e-mail address and have your<br />

stories featured in the next newsletter.<br />

Fizza.Bangash@savethechildren.org<br />

To access Save the <strong>Child</strong>ren's<br />

image library, go to<br />

https://storycentral.savethechildren<br />

.org.uk/pages/search.php?search=%<br />

21collection35081&k=5e5bcb5e65<br />

Page<br />

12

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