Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is a medical condition that weakens the immune system and reduces the ability to fight off infection. That is why severely malnourished children have a much higher chance of dying from common childhood illnesses such as respiratory infections or diarrhoea. India has the largest burden of severe malnutrition in the world, with 93 lakh children under the age of five affected by SAM.
WHAT WE DO
In June 2017, MSF launched a programme in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and State Nutrition Mission in Jharkhand’s Chakradhapur block to identify and treat children with SAM using the community-based management of acute malnutrition (CMAM) model.
IN 2018
Several training sessions were conducted at the community level for healthcare workers of the MOH so as to ensure sustainability of the project. We focus on preventive and therapeutic measures as part of the model including robust screening and community engagement activities.
A qualitative study was also conducted to identify factors that determine health-seeking behaviour, gender division and decisional power dynamics with regard to the perception and practices related to malnutrition in Chakradharpur, Jharkhand.
In November 2018, we began an operational research study to work on context-specific indicators to improve the community-based managment of acute malnutrition (CMAM) model of care.
Children screened for
SAM
SAM children treated
through the CMAM approach
SAM children
admitted to inpatient
facility