FINAL REPORT : EVALUATION OF THE CPMI PROGRAM AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ITS IMPROVEMENT (NOV 3, 1971-AUG 31, 1972)

PROJ PROVIDES FOR SHIPMENT * DISBURSEMENT OF PL480 TITLE II NON-FAT DRY MILK(NFLM) TO ESTIMATED 600, 000 INFANTS, PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN, & PREGNANT/LACTATING MOTHERS. FINAL SHIPMENT DATE EXTENDED FROM MARCH TO JUNE 72; FURTHER EXTENSION UNDER CONSIDERATION BY AID. OF 19,710 AUTHORIZED METRIC TONS NFLM,8,875 DELIVERED TO PARTICIPATING STATES BY JUNE 72. EVAL CONDUCTED BY USAID MATERNAL & CHILD FEEDING ADVISOR BASED ON OBSERVATIONS & ONSITE INTERVIEWS AT SELECTED DISPENSING LOCATIONS IN 9 OF 10 NE STATES EMPLOYING 7 CRITERIA: SCRENNING OF BENEFICIARIES; WEIGHING OF CHILDREN; NUTRITION EDUCATION; QUALIFIED PERSONNEL; STORAGE FACILITIES; TRANSPORTATION; & MONITORING OF FOOD DISTRIBUTION. OBSERVATION REVEALED VARYING LEVELS OF PERFORMANCE BY BRAZILIAN DISPENSING AGENCIES: NATIONAL RECUPERATION CENTERS,WITH LEAST COVERAGE HAD HIGHEST RATING FOR CRITERIA(86% GOOD);SPECIAL PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE FOUNDATION(ESESP) CENTERS OBSERVED WERE GIVEN 64% GOOD RATING;THE PHILANTHROPIC BRAZILIAN LEAGUE OF ASSISTANCE WITH SCANT COVERAGE,49% GOOD;AND THE STATE SECRETARIAT OF HEALTH(SSH) CENTERS(MOST WIDESPREAD COVERAGE WITHIN NE STATES)WERE RATED 23% FAIR,54% POOR,20% NON-EXISTENT WITH REGARD TO THE 7 CRITERIA. SSH CENTERS WERE JUDGED EXTREMELY DEFICIENTIN WEIGHING OF CHILDREN,NUTR EDUC,& MONITORING OF DISTRIB. PROJ EFFICTIVENESS VARIES BY STATE WITH DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN INDIVIDUAL PLANS & IMPLEMENTATION AND DEFICIENCIES IN INFRASTRUCTURE & HUMAN RESOURCES. EVAL PRESENTS 3 OPTIONS FOR PROJ EXTENSION: (1)CONTINUE PRESENT PROJ CONTINGENT ON OBIIGATION OF FUNDING & QUALIFIED PERSONNEL BY EACH STATE WITH SHIPMENT NFLM DEPENDANT ON PERIODIC REPORTS DEMONSTRATING COMPLIANCE;(2)NEGOTIATE NEW TRANSFER AUTHORIZATION DESIGNATING FSESP AS COORD AGENCY TO APPROVE ALL PARTIC AGENCY PLANS ON STATE LEVEL;(3)DISCONTINUE PROJ UNTIL NATL HEALTH MINISTRY DEFINES NEW POLICY WITH PRIORITY ON MAT/CHILD HEALTH CONSISTENT WITH AID OBJS. APPENDICES CONTAIN OUTLINE OF NEW NATIONAL POLICY & CALCULATIONS OF NUMBERS CHILDREN/MOTHERS MALNOURISHED.