Nutrition: Fighting the Scourge of Hunger
According to the World Food Program (WFP), over 12.1 million people in Syria are currently food insecure, which represents more than 50% of the country’s population. As international aid declines, an additional 2.9 million people are at risk of hunger this year, potentially increasing the proportion of the Syrian population unable to feed their families to 70%.
With soaring food and medicine prices, families struggle to meet even their most basic needs. The lack of adequate nutrition can lead to irreversible consequences, such as blindness from vitamin A deficiency, developmental delays, physical disabilities, and increased infant mortality. The dangers of malnutrition are extensive, particularly affecting infants, children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers.
Since 2015, Mehad has been implementing a malnutrition management program aimed at combating hunger. In collaboration with UNICEF and the World Health Organization, we have established training protocols for caregivers to prevent, screen, and treat undernutrition and malnutrition.
How Does Mehad Fight Hunger?
AWARENESS & SCREENING
Fighting hunger begins with crisis prevention through proactive screening. Our community health workers engage with local populations to raise awareness about the malnutrition status of pregnant and breastfeeding women, as well as children, aiming to identify and screen at-risk individuals as early as possible. For this purpose, they utilize a mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) bracelet to accurately measure the circumference of the upper left arm.
MEDICAL FOLLOW-UP AND CARE
Every child and pregnant or breastfeeding woman diagnosed with malnutrition receives immediate care. Medical follow-up is provided over several weeks to ensure recovery. The cornerstone of our treatment protocol includes “Plumpy’nut” or “Plumpy’soup,” which are high-energy, high-protein peanut pastes administered regularly based on the severity of the patient’s malnutrition.
TRAINING OF MEDICAL TEAMS
All caregivers are trained in the malnutrition treatment protocol established by WHO and UNICEF, which is centered around our program’s four key components: Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF), Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC), Nutritional Support for Children in Distress (NSCD), and Community Nutrition Assessment and Management (CNAM). This comprehensive training ensures that the protocols are effectively implemented and utilized throughout Syria, enhancing our ability to combat malnutrition and support vulnerable populations.
Hajar, a Child Saved from the Dangers of Malnutrition
Hajar was brought to our clinic by his parents due to significant concerns about his weight loss and loss of appetite. Upon measuring his Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC), we found it to be 111 mm, indicating severe malnutrition. Hajar was also experiencing diarrhea caused by intestinal inflammation, necessitating a pediatric consultation for appropriate treatment.
After a thorough evaluation, we conducted an appetite test and provided him with therapeutic supplements, specifically Plumpy Nut, along with detailed instructions for his parents on how to support his recovery.
A follow-up visit one week later revealed a remarkable improvement in Hajar’s health, with a significant weight gain. Due to travel constraints faced by the family, our community health workers ensured home follow-up and continued to provide the necessary care until Hajar fully recovered. During the last visit, his MUAC was recorded at 135 mm, demonstrating the effectiveness of our integrated approach to malnutrition management.
Hajar’s parents expressed their deep satisfaction with her recovery and acknowledged the positive impact of our intervention on their family’s overall health.
