Humanitarian Nutrition Assistance Program

The devastating earthquake on 25th April & 12th May 2015 caused an extensive destruction and loss of many lives in Nepal. In the wake of this disaster, an estimated 404,000 children under 5 and 185,000 pregnant and lactating women were in need of humanitarian support and were at risk of acute malnutrition in 14 of the worst affected districts(Gorkha, Kavrepalanchok, Dhading, Nuwakot, Rasuwa, Sindhupalchok, Dolakha, Ramechhap, Okhaldhunga, Makwanpur, Sindhuli, Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur) identified by the Government of Nepal (GoN).

Humanitarian Nutrition Assistance Program of UNICEF, under the leadership of Child Health Division (CHD) of Ministry of Health (MoH) along with District/Public Health Office (D/PHO) was introduced, integrated and implemented in the existing health system from May 2015. The main objective of this program was to mitigate the risk of malnutrition in susceptible mothers and children under five years of age. Eventually, the response phase was over at the end of December, 2015. Soon after the response phase, humanitarian nutrition recovery strategies were developed. Furthermore, with the support from Child Health Division and UNICEF, NTAG has been implementing “Humanitarian Nutrition Assistance for Recovery Action” program in five out of fourteen highly affected earthquake districts from February 2016. Similarly, the humanitarian nutrition assistance for recovery action program was over at the end of March 2017. However, in context of the recovery phase of nutrition in emergency, there were some indulging situation that needed to be addressed before handing the program over to the district health office. Additionally, the formal request from CHD to UNICEF to continue the support till the end of 2017 had created an urge to extend the program.

Post Disaster (Earthquake) Nutrition Recovery Program has been extended from April 2017 to December 2017 for continuing the delivery and its service to manage the acute malnutrition in the districts with the same target group of 0-59 month’s children and pregnant and lactating women. However in the program, NTAG is playing a role on the ownership development of the health workers, providing technical support wherever necessary and monitoring all the activities defined rather than involving in the direct intervention of the program. This extended program aims at the subsequent handover of the program to the government at the end of the year 2017.

In addition, the recovery phase for the upcoming period has also defined the activities in relation to the homestead food production, emergency preparedness and developing the contingency plan of the district health office in the mutual coordination with the chief of D/PHO and nutrition focal person. The prevention of the acute malnutrition is very challenging and its attainment requires multi-sectoral approaches. Furthermore, the community people need to be sensitized in the various aspects of nutrition. Likewise, the homestead food production will help to make community aware about the kitchen gardening which will provide them with the yearlong nutritious food supply. Additionally, the emergency preparedness will build the resilience in future in the district if it encounters any case of an unexpected emergencies. Therefore, the upcoming program will not only assist the district health office to run the program effectively but also helps to prevent/manage the children and women from acute malnutrition in the future.

1. To support in strengthening capacity of health workers, FCHVs and CSOs on comprehensive nutrition intervention.
2. To build the capacity of health workers on the management of SAM with medical complications in five earthquake affected districts.
3. To promote and support maternal, infant and young child feeding practices such as breast feeding and complementary feeding.
4. To strengthen MAM and SAM management in children under 5 years of age, pregnant and lactating women.
5. To support in the prevention of micro-nutrient deficiencies disorders in children under 5 and women.
6. To promote MIYCN, IMAM, micronutrient, homestead food production and emergency preparedness related practices.
7. To strengthen the multi-sectoral nutrition coordination

1. Enhance capacity of health Workers (HWs), Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs), NTAG staffs and key stakeholders on comprehensive nutrition interventions.
2. Support, promote and protect maternal, infant and young child nutrition
3. Manage moderate acute malnutrition of children, pregnant and lactating women
4. Manage severe acute malnutrition of 6-59 months children
5. Manage acute malnutrition of pregnant and lactating mothers
6. Prevent micro-nutrient deficiencies of children and women
7. Promote behavior on MIYCN, IMAM, Micronutrient, homestead food production and emergency preparedness.
8. Strengthen multi-sectoral coordination for effective nutrition services is established