The University of Health Sciences (UHS) has launched a new initiative to integrate child nutrition and related health interventions into the MBBS curriculum across Punjab in collaboration with UNICEF.
The programme began with the first phase of a four-part capacity-building initiative, marked by a three-day training workshop on community-based management of acute malnutrition (CMAM) in Lahore.
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Medical educationists, paediatricians, public health specialists and healthcare trainers from medical colleges and teaching hospitals across Punjab participated in the workshop, which is being organised by the UHS Department of International Linkages.
Under the UHS-UNICEF partnership, four specialised training sessions will be held between May and June 2026. These will focus on community-based management of acute malnutrition, infant and young child feeding (IYCF), early childhood development (ECD), and multiple micronutrient supplementation (MMS).
The initiative aims to standardise nutrition-related teaching in undergraduate medical education according to recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF.
The ongoing CMAM workshop is centred on early detection, treatment and referral of children suffering from severe and moderate acute malnutrition. It also covers stabilisation care, supplementary feeding and community-based follow-up measures.
According to WHO estimates, around 45 million children under five globally are affected by acute malnutrition. UNICEF data indicates that one in every three children in Pakistan experiences malnutrition or growth-related health issues.
Speaking at the event, UHS Vice Chancellor Prof Ahsan Waheed Rathore said the collaboration reflects the institution’s commitment to aligning medical education with pressing public health priorities.
He stressed that nutrition and child health can no longer remain secondary topics in medical training, given Pakistan’s increasing burden of malnutrition and preventable childhood diseases.
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Health experts at the workshop described acute malnutrition as a major yet often overlooked public health challenge and emphasised the importance of early screening and community-based interventions.
Officials hope the programme will better equip future doctors with practical skills to identify nutritional deficiencies and improve maternal and child healthcare outcomes across Punjab.