Malnutrition has spiked as a result of lack of access to safe water and sanitation, increasing disease rates, rising food insecurity and conflict. More than 1 million people across South Sudan are now acutely malnourished. This includes an estimated more than 231,300 children under age 5 who are severely acutely malnourished (SAM), more than 454,900 children who are moderately acutely malnourished (MAM), some 316,200 pregnant and lactating women and 3,900 elderly IDPs in PoCs. The resumption of intensified conflict in April 2015 led to the closure of 80 outpatient therapeutic programme and 91 therapeutic supplementary feeding programme sites in Unity and Upper Nile States between April and June, cutting off access to treatment for more than 5,600 SAM and nearly 17,500 MAM children. Out of 50 counties surveyed in 2015, 33 had Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) rates deemed to be critical (above 15 per cent), including two counties in Unity where GAM rates were more than twice the emergency threshold (Humanitarian Needs Overview Report 2016). Children suffering from severe acute malnutrition are nine times more likely to die than their healthy peers, while those with moderate acute malnutrition are three times more likely to die. To mitigate these, CARD specifically aims to undertake the following actions;
Provide treatment for SAM and MAM in children under 5 years, P&LW and other vulnerable groups.
Conduct training to health workers and CHD on treatment of SAM and MAM and waste disposal in line with national guidelines in counties within the HFs.
Provide micronutrient supplementation to children under 5 years and P&LW Conduct Community and health facility screening and referrals
Support and promote appropriate infant and young child feeding practices through community awareness
Establish the formation of MSGs which will be gender inclusive to PLW and their husbands
Formation of a demonstration gardens and cooking lessons to Pregnant & Lactating Women (PLW) and mothers/caregivers of children who are acutely malnourished
Provide refresher training to Health workers, mothers support groups, Community Nutrition Volunteers (CNVs) and community based organizations on infant and young child feeding (IYCF) and hygiene
Provide nutrition, hygiene, IYCF education/information through local radio stations at least once a week in conjunction with State Ministry of Education and SMoH
Train and support Mother support groups on micronutrient promotion through vegetable production and also school gardens.
Train CHD, health workers and CNVs in EP&R.