The proposed project will provide emergency Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) support to Filtu and Kersa Dula woredas in Liben Zone, Somali region, for a period of 3 months, and East Belasa, Kinfaz Begela and Janamora woredas of North Gonder, Amhara Region for a period of 3 months. Concern will build the capacity of Ministry of Health (MoH) through strengthen existing Therapeutic Feeding Program (TFP) services by increasing coverage and quality as well as zonal level coordination of CMAM service through ensuring the reporting quality. The intervention will address high levels of acute malnutrition in the woredas, supporting the treatment of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) cases and preventing deterioration of Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM) cases among children under five years of age (U5) and pregnant and lactating women.
The overall objective of the project is to provide lifesaving emergency nutrition services in five Priority 1 Hotspot woredas. Concern will support the MoH to deliver high quality CMAM services including Outpatient Therapeutic Programs (OTP), Stabilization Centers (SC), and community mobilization through infant and young child feeding in emergencies (IYCF-E) messaging. The project will strengthen the capacity of the targeted woredas of both Somali and Amhara regions of Health Offices (WoHO) to manage CMAM and establish effective community mobilization mechanisms for case detection, referral, follow-up, and promotion of key health-seeking behaviors. The OTP, SC, and community mobilization components will be delivered by the Woreda MoH in order to improve management and treatment of severely malnourished children at health post (HP) level, treatment of severely malnourished children with medical complications at SCs, and community mobilization through more robust outreach by health staff and Health Extension Workers (HEWs). Technical support, including joint monitoring and supervision of OTP/SC and on-the-job training for health workers, will ensure the quality of the intervention and allow for corrective action when needed. The Targeted Supplementary Feeding Program (TSFP) component, through which screenings, distributions, and on-site IYCF-E services will be delivered as well as directly supported by Concern.
Concern will provide MoH staff and HEWs with CMAM training in line with national guidelines, and HEWs will also be trained to deliver IYCF-E activities to promote optimal feeding practices. Good hygiene and treatment of drinking water at household level will also be promoted through messaging and with water treatment chemicals (WTC), laundry, and body soap distributed to TSFP beneficiaries.