Food and Nutrition
Nutrition intervention in children most especially adolescent girls contribute to breaking the vicious cycle of intergenerational malnutrition, poverty and chronic diseases. An unhealthy diet increases risk to Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) such as cancer, diabetes etc. Nutrition is important for the optimal growth and development of children and adolescents. It is in this vein that Mashiah Foundation has strategically design its nutrition intervention to meet the nutritional needs of children, adolescents, women and households.
MF has carried out different nutrition activities geared towards efficient and effective nutrition service delivery aimed at improving the general wellbeing of Caregivers, adolescents and Children in more than 31 communities of Jos North and Bassa LGA of Plateau State. Some of the nutrition interventions provided by MF are thus:
- Nutrition education and counselling
- Growth Monitoring and Promotion (GMP)
- Nutrition Screening
- Vitamin A supplement
- Food & Nutrition Assessment Counselling and Support (NACS) services
- Home garden and small animal rearing training
- Food preservation and storage
- Food demonstration preparation
- Household food security training
- Food and Nutrition training
- Referrals
MF has trained over 2600 caregivers on Community Infant and Young Child Feeding (C-IYCF) and expanded nutrition. While over 13,209 beneficiaries (3116 caregivers and 10,093 Orphans and Vulnerable Children) has been reached within Jos North and Bassa LGA.
Nutrition assessment counseling support has been conducted to 5,800 OVC, Growth Monitoring and Promotion to over 4683 OVC out of which two cases of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) were identified and referred to the PHC for immediate medical attention.
MF has established a good working relationship with over 20 Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs) across various project communities in Plateau & Ondo States and has trained over 55 Community Health Workers (CHEWs) on CIYCF and Expanded Nutrition. 71 Community Infant and Young Child Feeding (CIYCF) support groups have been established comprising of over 2600 caregivers. 1107 OVC have been administered with Vitamin A and Albendazole tablets.