Peer support groups help keep anaemia at bay

Nurjawanis has an important job. Since her school closed because of COVID-19, she makes home visits to 10 adolescent girls who live in her neighbourhood, to give them iron folic aid (IFA) tablets to prevent anaemia.

An online UNICEF survey had found that nearly 90 per cent of adolescent girls in Indonesia had stopped taking IFA tablets during the pandemic. It caused interruptions in essential nutrition services for adolescents, which has a profound impact on their nutritional status.

That’s where Nurjanwanis – and other peer volunteers – step in, to safeguard and promote access to essential nutrition services for adolescents.

The eager 14-year-old student enjoys her responsibility. “I am so excited with this task. Not only do I have an opportunity to help my friends stay healthy during the pandemic, but I am also able to see them, if only for a few minutes,” said Nurjawanis.  

Nurjawanis’s group is one of 186 peer support groups across 48 schools – which are all part of a multisectoral programme aimed at tackling undernutrition, anaemia and obesity. In 2019,  more than 60 000 adolescent girls in one province were reached with IFA tablets, 4 000 of whom were reached by peer supporters like Nurjawanis.  

Initiatives like this are but one way in which UNICEF helps to find solutions to nutritional challenges in Indonesia – and they’re crucial, given that nearly 23 per cent of Indonesian girls between 14 and 18 years are anaemic. But just as volunteers like Nurjawanis pitch in to help, UNICEF needs your help to prevent malnutrition.

Anaemia – characterised by a lack of red blood cells to carry oxygen around the body ­­– is commonly caused by micronutrient deficiencies and poor nutrition. Untreated, it can lead to fatigue, shortness of breath, difficulty focusing and reduced cognitive performance. 

Anaemic adolescent girls are more likely to become anaemic mothers. During pregnancy, they have an elevated risk of postpartum haemorrhage and giving birth to low-birthweight, premature or stillborn babies. In turn, these babies are more likely to grow stunted, perpetuating the cycle of malnutrition. Your donation now will help to stop this.

“I learned in school that anaemia is often experienced by adolescent girls, especially when they have their monthly period. That’s why IFA tablets are very important to prevent adolescent girls from becoming anaemic, and to help increase blood circulation which enables them to concentrate and live a healthy life,” said Nurjawanis enthusiastically. 

Since the onset of COVID-19, Nurjawanis has had to take new precautionary measures to protect her own health and the health of her peers. Before going to homes to distribute the IFA tablets, she makes an appointment. She always wears a mask during visits, keeps a distance of at least 1.5 metres and meets her friends outside their homes, in the fresh air.  

“Distributing the IFA tablets does not mean that my mission is accomplished,” she said. “I also need to send them a reminder to take it.”  

Nurjawanis also takes IFA tablets once a week. “I have to lead by example, although I feel sad and lonely when taking IFA tablets at home alone, instead of taking them together with my friends at school,” she said with a sigh.

Until no child is malnourished, stunted or suffers ill health because of insufficient nutrition, UNICEF’s mission is not accomplished, either. Your donation here, to help prevent anaemia, stop the scourge of stunting – and help children to grow up strong and healthy – will be so greatly appreciated. Thank you!