Project Name: Integrated health and nutrition response to drought affected communities in xudur district Bakool region
Project Code: SOM-22/3485/RA3/Nut-H/NGO/22692
Start date: 01/08/2022 end date: 31/01/2023
ACTIVITY BACKGROUND
The humanitarian situation in Xudur district remains critical due to the ongoing impacts of drought, displacement and conflict. In June 2022, the nutrition cluster estimated that caseload for acute malnutrition in Xudur district is around 6,000 children with SAM and 20,000 children with MAM annually between June 2021 and July 2022. The proposed integrated emergency nutrition and health interventions will provide integrated lifesaving treatment for acute malnutrition in the targeted locations in Xudur district through 3 fixed health and nutrition facilities (OTP/MCH) and seven mobile outreach teams in IDPs/rural areas targeting children under five and pregnant and lactating women (PLW).
The proposed project aims to increase coverage and access to the management of both moderate and severe acute malnutrition (MAM/SAM), vitamin A supplementation and deworming as well as promotion of optimal infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices. HIDIG nutrition teams will provide a systematic identification, referral, and treatment of acutely malnourished cases by providing integrated nutrition services to OTS, TSFP and Stabilization centers. HIDIG have carry out the proposed activities in an integrated manner with other sectors such as Health, Food Security, WASH and Child Protection to promote synergy, and to address the underlying and root causes of acute malnutrition. We will also promote full participation of women, girls, and boys, in the project planning, monitoring and implementation to promote their voices are heard and are considered including communication preferences. A focus was given to ensure participation of people with special needs or with disabilities by targeting 15% of the total target population in xudur districts.
As part of the integrated project, HIDIG is undertaking supplementation of vitamin A and micronutrient to children under the age of 5 years’ boys and girls for the supplementation of key nutrients in all its project sites in Xudur district.
| S/no | Region | District | Location | Status |
| 1 | Bakool | Xudur | Ceelgadow IDP | Mobile/outreach |
| 2 | Bakool | Xudur | Wardhujiley IDP | Mobile/outreach |
| 3 | Bakool | Xudur | Yowkoyow IDP | Mobile/outreach |
| 4 | Bakool | Xudur | Dhursheen Shibele IDP | Mobile/outreach |
| 5 | Bakool | Xudur | Tiyeeglow IDP, | Mobile/outreach |
| 6 | Bakool | Xudur | Abal IDP | Mobile/outreach |
| 7 | Bakool | Xudur | Doon dardiir IDP | Mobile/outreach |
| 8 | Bakool | Xudur | Horseed village | Mobile/outreach |
| 9 | Bakool | Xudur | Mooragaabey village | fixed health&Nutrition site/SC |
| 10 | Bakool | Xudur | Buulow | fixed health&Nutrition sites |
TARGET BENEFICIARIES
The target beneficiaries for the vitamin A and micronutrient supplementation are all under 5 children boys, girls who are receiving treatment for acute malnutrition in all the HIDIG project sites in Xudur district.
The project target and achievement for the first quarter has been illustrated in the following table.
| Indicator | Project Target | Project Achievement | Percentage Achievement | Status |
| 1. | 6,240 | 3,432 | 55% | Ongoing |
Despite the project supply coming a few weeks later due to some logistical and security challenges, the supplementation of Vitamin A and multiple micronutrient is in line with the project targets.
METHOD OF DISTRIBUTION (METHODOLOGY).
HIDIG through its trained Nutrition screeners/staff, give every child between 6-59 months in all our 7 sites including the mobile teams in IDP Camps, do health education on the benefits of the micronutrient powder and how to administer it to the child.
CHALLENGES / CONSTRAINTS.
The following were some of the challenges encountered during the supplementation of Vitamin A and multiple micronutrient for the past 3 months (August, sept, and Oct 2022):
- Delay in supply delivery from UNICEF side due logistical challenges and high needs during the drought response
- Poor community knowledge on the benefits of Vit A and MM since this is the first time most of the beneficiaries have come across the micronutrient since most of the target beneficiary were relocated from AS restricted locations.
- Some caretakers do not give the micronutrient to the child and hence complicate the child nutrition status monitoring
LESSONS LEARNT
The following were lesson learnt during the distribution of the micronutrient powder within the community
- Community sensitization, engagement and education goes a long way in the consumption and uptake of vitamin A and multiple micronutrient supplementation
- Children supplemented with the micronutrient respond better to the treatment of SAM and MAM and recover faster than those who have not been supplemented. Children who have been supplemented with the powder have shown improved appetite.