Health
Checking 7,350 children for malnutrition in Daykundi
Community health workers checked every child under five in 52 villages for malnutrition, and enrolled those at risk in a feeding program.
- Location
- Nili and Shahristan districts, Daykundi
- Duration
- Jun 1, 2023 - May 31, 2024
- People reached
- 7,350
- Budget
- $61,400
Why this project
After two dry years and high food prices, health workers in Nili and Shahristan were seeing more thin and sick children. Many families did not know their child was malnourished until the child became seriously ill.
What we did
We trained 40 community health workers to measure children's arms and weight, and to recognise the warning signs of malnutrition. They visited every household with young children in 52 villages, twice over the year.
Children at risk were enrolled in a feeding program with ready-to-use therapeutic food and were checked every two weeks. Children with complications were referred to the provincial hospital. Mothers joined short sessions on feeding young children.
What we learned
Finding children early meant most could be treated at home. The community health workers are still in place and now check children as part of their regular visits.
