Ongoing conflict and the forced displacement of more than 800,000 people in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique has led to a humanitarian crisis in the region. Communities have limited access to food, income and healthcare whilst children under 5 are vulnerable to infectious diseases and malnutrition. A survey* in 2022 showed chronic malnutrition levels exceeded 53 per cent in some districts.
MENTOR is now working with local authorities in two districts of Cabo Delgado to tackle the high rates of malnutrition. Almost 50 healthcare workers, including community health workers, and district and community focal points, have been trained to provide services that improve nutrition and treat malnutrition.
They were trained in implementing PIN (Pacote de Intervenções em Nutrição) which is a package of nutrition intervention and treatment of malnutrition within the community and health facilities. PIN aims to increase access to services and improve the quality of nutrition interventions offered in communities and health units, targeting children under 2. TDC is the treatment of malnutrition within the community focusing on acute and moderate malnutrition.
Community-based activities have also started involving the distribution of materials to diagnose and treat malnutrition, cooking demonstrations, and monthly data review meetings, supervision and mapping exercises within eight communities.
Local organisation APDS is supporting the implementation of activities such as community mobilisation, nutrition education, hygiene promotion and sharing safeguarding information.
The programme, funded by UNICEF, aims to reach more than 25,000 people with information sessions, and provide 6,800 children with access to malnutrition prevention services and screening. An estimated 500 children will be likely to receive treatment and supplementation for malnutrition.
*Post-shock Nutrition SMART Survey Preliminary Results -10 districts of Cabo Delgado Province – April 2023.