Title: Government Expands Support for Mothers and Infants with “Yasna” Nutritional Subsidy Program
In a significant move to bolster family health, the Iranian government is implementing the “Yasna” plan, a major support initiative designed to enhance food security for pregnant and nursing mothers and their infants under two years of age.
Targeted Support for Families
The program, administered through a non-cash goods subsidy credited directly to the household head’s card, is specifically targeted at mothers falling within the first to seventh income deciles. This ensures the support reaches those families deemed most in need. Eligibility is determined automatically through a collaborative process between the Ministry of Health, which identifies pregnant women, and the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labour, and Social Welfare, which conducts income assessments.
Streamlined Access and Priority Groups
Eligible mothers are not required to undertake a separate registration process. Once their information is registered and verified through the national health system at local urban or rural health centers, they are automatically enrolled. Within the designated income brackets, priority is given to mothers with breastfeeding infants to ensure they receive enhanced nutritional support during this critical period.
Promoting Health and Nutrition
The allocated credit is not withdrawable as cash. Instead, it is designed for the purchase of 16 essential food and hygienic items, carefully selected by experts to form a nutritious dietary pattern for the family. This initiative aims to directly contribute to the improved health of both mother and child.
Zahra Qiyoumi, Director General of the Support Affairs and Empowerment Office at the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labour, and Social Welfare, emphasized the program’s nutritional goals. “These food packages should be used as a dietary model within the family,” she stated, highlighting the expert-driven selection of goods.
Ongoing Commitment and Future Prospects
The successful continuation of the Yasna plan is contingent on the consistent and timely allocation of funds by relevant national bodies. In the initial phase of its rollout, a substantial credit was allocated to each eligible mother for charging her food and health basket, which included provisions for items such as diapers. Experts affirm that the program holds great potential to significantly improve the health of pregnant women and young children, provided its funding remains stable and reliable.
How to Check Eligibility
Families can check their status and credit balance through several official channels:
- The government portals
my.gov.irandhemayat.mcls.gov.ir. - The “Shama” mobile application.
- By dialing the USSD code
*1463*500#and entering the national code of the household head.