Supplementary feeding and breastfeeding
This project provides vitamins, supplementary food items (such as Supermix, a food gruel) and therapeutic milk to Central and Southern Somalia. Here malnutrition among children under five years old is a chronic problem, primarily among internally displaced persons and other disadvantaged groups. The nutrition team distributes the therapeutic supplies through health facilities and provides training to health workers involved in the feeding programmes. UNICEF action includes: supplying measuring tools (scales, height and length boards); providing guidelines for dietary supplementation and related training for staff working at maternal child health centres; introducing supplementary feeding programme registers to improve overall programme management; logistics support to the operation, and regularly monitoring programme activities. Supply and demand In partnership with non-governmental organizations distribution is undertaken through implementing partners in 12 maternal and child health centres (MCHs), two hospitals and four therapeutic feeding centres in the Bay, Bakool, Gedo and Benadir regions. In addition, UNICEF has provided supplies of Supermix therapeutic milk, and BP5 (digestive biscuits) to malnourished children during drought, insecurity, flooding and other emergencies. Following a nutritional survey in May/June 2003 in the Sool Plateau of Northern Somalia, UNICEF and the World Food Programme (WFP) set up special supplementary feeding programmes that included medical interventions benefiting close to 2,000 children living in very poor, drought-affected areas. This included nutritional screening, food supplements for the malnourished, micronutrient supplementation, nutritional education, immunization and treatment of the most common diseases. Breastfeeding The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) approach is not practical in Somalia because very few women give birth to their infants in hospitals. UNICEF promotes exclusive breastfeeding through health and nutrition education sessions regularly held at maternal and child health centres, through radio programmes and community advocacy.
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