Prior to the pandemic lockdown, each day mothers of malnourished infants would carry their babies to the ISU-UP nutrition education center in their community for assistance. There, mothers would meet as a group and prepare a nutritious porridge. Then both breastfeeding mothers and infants would consume a cup of this life-saving formula, and take some home for another meal later in the day. These group gatherings also served as a venue for training in nutrition, gardening, visits by district nurses, and social support among other services.
A government ban on group gatherings that was put in place to help mitigate the spread of COVID had the unfortunate side effect of disrupting this process. Yet in the midst of the pandemic, malnutrition started increasing. The ISU-UP community nutrition team knew they had to pivot. To keep the health of mothers and infants from backsliding, they devised a method of mixing, milling, portioning, and distributing porridge flour to the homes of mothers. However, logistical hurdles left gaps in the nutrition plan. Among other challenges, it just wasn’t possible to deliver to the homes of more than 1,000 clients often enough (many homes are not accessible by road, and some require a water crossing). So the team pivoted again.
Fortified flour is now being delivered on a specific timetable to each of the nine nutrition education centers. Mothers arrive at staggered times to pick up their weekly provisions. They are also provided with instructions on how to prepare the porridge and how much to consume in order to maintain the health of themselves and their infant.
With your contribution, we can continue to meet the needs of mothers and infants during these challenging times and keep them on the path to recovery and self-sustainability. https://fundisu.foundation.iastate.edu/project/22213