Urgent actions
Participants identified several urgent actions to address malnutrition, along with ways to implement them: Nutrition education and awareness: Increase community sensitization on balanced diets, child feeding, and hygiene. This can be done through regular training sessions, home visits by community health workers, and using local media. Promotion of local nutritious foods: Encourage families to grow and use diverse local crops such as vegetables, beans, and nuts. Cooking demonstrations and nutrition clubs were suggested to show how to prepare balanced meals with available foods. Strengthening g
... Read morerowth monitoring and early detection: Expand routine screening of children under five using simple tools like MUAC tapes. Participants recommended training more community volunteers and health workers to identify and refer malnourished children promptly. Improving access to clean water and sanitation: Community-led projects to build latrines and promote hygiene practices were emphasized to reduce diseases that worsen malnutrition. Engaging local leaders and stakeholders: Mobilize local government, religious leaders, and women’s groups to champion nutrition programs and allocate resources for sustainability. Addressing poverty and food security: Participants called for support in income-generating activities and food security interventions like food banks or vouchers for vulnerable families. Behavior change communication: Use storytelling, songs, and peer support groups to encourage positive nutrition and health practices within households. To take these actions forward, participants proposed forming nutrition committees at village level to coordinate activities, linking with existing health services, and seeking support from NGOs and government programs for technical and material assistance. Regular follow-up meetings and community feedback mechanisms were also recommended to track progress and adapt strategies. Read less