Understand how child malnutrition results from inadequate food intake, illness, or lack of care and what actions are needed. Two excellent sources (available online) for self-briefing are "The State of the World’s Children 1998" which focuses on nutrition and "Food, Health and Care: The UNICEF vision and strategy for a world free from hunger and malnutrition, 1996."
Involve school community and health workers in assessing malnutrition using key indicators: Children who are underweight, stunted and wasted; women who are anaemic; babies who are born with low birth weight; children who are anaemic or vitamin A or iodine deficient.
Promote breastfeeding -- exclusive breastfeeding up to first six months and continuation of breastfeeding, with complementary food, for up to two years or beyond by educating the school and wider community about the benefits of breastfeeding to the mother and the child and the health, economic and environmental costs of artificial feeding.
Support breastfeeding by advocating for breastfeeding-friendly environments in work places including schools and by participating in the work of community breastfeeding support groups. Advocate for baby-friendly health facilities in the community.
Protect breastfeeding by mobilising the community to take actions against unethical promotion of formula feeding (e. g. visit local health centres and ensure there are no posters or pamphlets promoting breastmilk substitutes on display).
Raise community awareness about the importance of good care and support of women during pregnancy and lactation. Pregnant women who do not get proper care and adequate food give birth to low birth weight babies who are at a high risk of poor growth and development. Lactating mothers need good care and proper nutrition in order to breastfeed with confidence.
Promote the use of iodised salt. Goitre and cretinism are two major consequences of iodine deficiency but even milder forms of iodine deficiency can hamper cognition and educational achievement. Iodine deficient children and adults can have IQ levels that are 10-12 points lower than is normal.
Help educate the community about the importance of vitamin A in diets, especially for children and pregnant women. Breastmilk, liver, eggs, yellow fruits, green leafy vegetables and red palm oil are good sources of vitamin A. Grow vitamin A rich foods in school kitchen gardens. In communities where children are vitamin A deficient, support high dose vitamin A supplements to children (and mothers) through health services or as part of national immunization days.
Help combat anaemia in women and children by raising community awareness about iron-rich diets and iron supplements. Breastmilk, meats, liver, legumes and molases are good sources of iron. Most women require iron pills during pregnancy to meet increased need for iron.
Support other health and nutrition activities such as regular deworming of children where parasitic infestation is common, organising school health and nutrition days and contributing to World Breastfeeding Week.
