Bundling nutrition, WASH and health services to save lives
How UNICEF is reaching thousands of children through integrated mass campaigns
With critical systems and services on the brink of collapse, children and families in Sudan are facing challenges accessing critical health services across the country. As millions remain on the move, health systems in states with high displacements are overstretched, while some health facilities in many locations are not functioning. Children are left vulnerable to life-threatening disease like polio, measles, which are preventable through vaccinations. Additionally, many are missing out on critical healthcare services, exposing them to dangerous diseases. Malnutrition rates are soaring, with nearly 730,000 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition and in urgent need and uninterrupted lifesaving care.
In response, UNICEF with the generous support of the United Kingdom Government has launched integrated health, nutrition, and WASH campaigns to reach vulnerable children under 5 years and pregnant women with a continuum of health services, in River Nile, one of the states currently hosting large numbers of displaced families. Community-level integrated initiatives not only save lives but also bring services closer to disadvantaged mothers, newborns, and young children.
At Alnahda gathering point, mothers and caregivers arrive with their children at a service centre pitched in the vicinity. Health workers and volunteers have arrived early, and all service points have been set up.
Israa, a displaced mother, waits in the queue with her children - 9-month-old daughter Maya and 2-year-old Mona. She fled Omdurman, a city close to war-torn Khartoum. For several months, Israa and other families were trapped under active shelling and couldn’t leave until recently. Access to healthcare services in Omdurman was nearly impossible, as Israa describes, “the health services back home have deteriorated.” “I have been searching for vaccinations and nutrition services. But today, my daughters received vitamin A, deworming tablets, and I received soap,” she confirmed.
Distribution of soap and health education on hygiene practices are key elements of the campaign, including handwashing with clean water and soap. Communities are reminded that handwashig with water alone is not effective. This simple yet effective practice helps prevent the transmission of infectious diseases, respiratory infections, diarrheal diseases, and undernutrition in children under five.
Mobilizing communities so every child is reached
As more mothers and caregivers arrive, community mobilizers like Musa traverse all corners of the locality, promoting the campaign while urging people to participate. Despite the scorching sun, they tirelessly mobilize hundreds of families, ensuring no child or mother is left behind. In this location alone, over 500 families are reached with services.
Malnutrition – Find and treat
The deadly combination of food insecurity, war, and disease outbreaks is taking a huge toll on families, especially children. Malnutrition rates are soaring, while famine is looming. With the annual lean season beginning very soon, the malnutrition situation will only worsen. Malaz heard about the campaign from her neighbours. Her two-year-old daughter Aida was unwell and weak at the time. The campaign provided an opportunity to receive the much-needed healthcare for her sick child.
Malaz carried Aida as she was assessed. Aida’s mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) reading was in the red zone, signifying the need for immediate medical attention. During the campaign, mass MUAC screening supports early identification of malnourished children like Aida and immediate referral for treatment.
Aida is not alone. Several malnourished children have been identified, referred to Al-Arab health facility, and enrolled in UNICEF’s outpatient therapeutic programme for nutrition care and treatment until they gain weight. They consume nutritious ready-to-use-therapeutic food (RUTF), a paste packed with vitamins and minerals provided and this will help them recover.
In Atbara locality, a team of seven female volunteers is surrounded by mothers and children. Since the start of the campaign, their day begins very early with stocking health supplies, mapping out routes, and identifying sites within the IDP gathering points and host communities. They work tirelessly to reach every child.
Frontline health workers and volunteers have been the cornerstone of delivering mass campaigns such as this one. For this team, serving vulnerable families remain the driving force behind their hard work. According to Fatima, their lead “At each site, we start by educating families about the campaign. This is followed by screening all children under five years for malnutrition using the color-coded MUAC tape, and later we provide vitamin A drops and deworming tablets.” Pregnant women are also provided with iron and folic acid supplements.
“We are prioritizing integrated campaigns to achieve a bigger impact,” stressed Hanaa, UNICEF Nutrition Officer. “When families lack water and adequate sanitation facilities, children are at risk of consuming contaminated water and eating contaminated food. Consequently, they are susceptible to continuous diarrhea, which can lead to nutritional deficiencies,” she continued.
In River Nile, the integrated health, nutrition, and WASH campaign reached 222,748 children including 34,584 from internally displaced gathering points and plans are underway for similar campaigns in other states.
