The District Health Officer Islamabad, working with the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination, convened a meeting with Nutrition International and Premier Research (Prime) Consulting to review antenatal care and multiple micronutrient supplement service delivery and to identify ways to improve maternal and newborn health outcomes.
Participants examined current antenatal care (ANC) practices and the distribution and use of multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS) within the district health system. The discussion focused on barriers to effective service delivery, opportunities to increase uptake among pregnant women, and measures to strengthen the quality and consistency of care provided at health facilities.
The meeting also addressed coordination between government health authorities and partner organizations. Representatives from the District Health Office, the ministry, Nutrition International, and Prime Consulting explored ways to better align technical support, data reporting, and supply chain management to ensure reliable availability of MMS and ANC services.
Attendees considered strategies for capacity building, including targeted training for frontline health staff and improved monitoring and evaluation to track service coverage and health outcomes. Emphasis was placed on evidence-informed approaches to increase the reach and effectiveness of interventions that protect the health of mothers and newborns.
Moving forward, partners plan to refine service delivery recommendations and pursue collaborative steps to translate the meeting’s findings into concrete improvements in ANC and MMS provision across Islamabad’s health facilities.
