CARE Canada

Published purpose

This initiative aims to improve the nutritional status of women of reproductive age (15-49 years) and children under 5 years, while working with local health authorities. Activities include: (1) training health workers to provide education on and identify, monitor and treat malnutrition in mothers, pregnant and breastfeeding women and infants and children under 5 years; (2) delivering campaigns to encourage optimal breastfeeding, establishing household and school gardens to grow a diversity of nutritious foods, and holding cooking demonstrations to encourage use of new and unfamiliar foods; (3) constructing, rehabilitating and maintaining community water sources; and, (4) raising awareness on good water, sanitation and hygiene practices, as well as promoting open dialogue on gender norms and distribution of food, resources and assets within households and across household members. This initiative is expected to contribute directly to the improved health of approximately 190,000 women, children and men directly, and over 1 million individuals indirectly. The initiative is being implemented in Malawi (Dowa and Ntchisi districts), Mozambique (Funahlouro and Homoine districts) and Zambia (Mpika and Shiwa Ng’andu districts). It is implemented through a consortium led by Care Canada, and including McGill University, CUSO International, and the Interagency Coalition on AIDS and Development. Project implementation is also supported by the following local partners: in Malawi: Development Aid from People to People; in Mozambique: Associação Para Promoção e Desenvolvimento da Mulher, Associação Juvenil para a Educação e Promoção de Juventude, and REDE Pastoral de Homoine; and in Zambia: the National Food and Nutrition Commission and the CSO SUN Alliance.