INTEGRATED ASSISTANCE TO FLOOD-AFFECTED COMMUNITIES - Sindh

Background: In September 2020, the Government of Pakistan declared a national emergency as a result of the heaviest monsoon rains recorded in the last 70 years. Within Pakistan, Sindh Province was affected the most with 20 of the province’s 29 districts declared as ‘calamity affected’ by the provincial authorities. The humanitarian situation in Pakistan has deteriorated, impacting an already highly vulnerable population. Shifa Foundation, in collaboration with UNICEF, is implementing an “Integrated Flood Response project” to provide Health, Nutrition, and Child Protection services to the flood affected population in multiple districts, including Umerkot, Mirpur Khas, Sanghar, Naushahro Feroze, and Shaheed Benazir Abad. Our objective is to provide essential resources and assistance to the affected population in these districts to help them cope with this crisis. The response includes Health, Nutrition and Child Protection services to flood affected population.

Key activities to be performed:

Health Targets:

• 1,101,122 affected population provided primary health care services including 44,044 pregnant women and 165,168 children under-five.
• Immediate response by 16 Mobile Health Units (4 per district) to provide outreach services.
• Supporting transition to health facility service delivery by provision of medicines and minor repairs to sixteen health facilities in Sanghar, Umerkot, Mirpur Khas and Naushahro Feroze.
• Capacity building of at least 150 health care workers Integrated Management of Neonatal & Childhood Illness (IMNCI), Essential Newborn Care and Homebased Newborn care.
• Provision of medicines and supplies including equipment for Basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (BEmONC) services for 1.1 million affected people
• Social Behavioral change communication (SBCC) for preventive and promotive health services
• Strengthening coordination at the facility, district, and provincial level through technical assistance
• Linkage with CP and case referral.

 Nutrition Targets:

• 66,893 children (girls and boys) screened for malnutrition using MUAC
• 7,366 children’s girls and boys) treated for severe acute malnutrition.
• 368 (children (boys & girls) referred for higher level care at the stabilization center
• 59,959 children (30,876 girls and 29,181 boys) provided Multiple Micronutrient Supplements
• 100 number villages strengthened for optimal IYCF and healthy behaviors through by formation of mother-to-mother support groups and father to father support groups.
• 31,969 primary caregivers of children aged 0 to 23 months counselled on infant and young child feeding practices.
• prevention and treatment protocols/ CMAM & IYCF national guidelines, health and GBV
• 180 community volunteers and workers provided orientation and refresher training on prevention of malnutrition promotion nutrition messages, GBV, integrated messages and & referral pathways.     

Child Protection Targets:

• psychosocial support services (40% girls; 40% boys; 10% male caregivers; 10% female caregivers).
• 5,000 beneficiaries reached through awareness activities and UNICEF-supported community mobilization interventions on key child protection and GBV risks, and available services (20% girls; 20% boys; 30% male caregivers; 30% female caregivers)
• 224,000 (14,000 per each mobile team across 4 districts) will receive GBV risk mitigation and response services through direct and indirect GBV messaging, distribution of dignity supplies and referrals for care services

Deliverables:

• Increase access and utilization of PHC, MNCH and Nutrition services provided to affected communities through community outreach.
• Community awareness session organized with flood affected communities
• Health facilities capacity enhanced to provide PHC, Nutrition and MNCH services
• Increased technical capacity of the staff on ground to provide the integrated health services
• Provision of essential health supplies
• Nutrition services are provided at remains functional in 16 mobile units and 20 static nutrition sites for the management of identified acute malnourished children and PLW
• Provision of essential Nutrition supplies
• Healthy nutrition behaviors promoted at the facility and community level for prevention of malnutrition in early childhood.
• . Micronutrient deficiencies disorders in children & women prevented/ treated in the target population
• Sustainability of nutrition interventions ensured by strengthening local technical capacity at district level.
• Provision of community based MHPSS services for children and their caregivers.
• Community awareness on child protection risks and services
• Provision of GBV risk mitigation and response services