Report of technical assistance visit; Jamaica, 1/21-2/2/80

Report is based on a site visit. GOJ program objectives are to: eliminate malnutrition and anemia in preschool children and in pregnant and lactating mothers; improve nutritional status/knowledge in school children; and treat diet-related diseases. To accomplish these objectives the MOHSS"s Nutrition Unit has developed a four-point strategy, consisting of supplementary feeding programs in clinics, nutrition surveillance, nutrition education and communications, and training and curriculum development. The proposed A.I.D. project will help the Unit implement this strategy. To overcome administrative and logistical problems, the supplementary feeding program needs evaluation, redesign, logistics and management training for nutrition personnel, strategy development, and program impact assessment. Inadequate program management and evaluation of nutrition surveillance requires the latter"s integration into the new Health Information System, as well as trained staff for diagnosis and follow-up of children and pregnant/lactating women, data collection, nutritional status analysis, and systematic reporting. Car loans are being provided for 16 nutrition and education field staff; educational materials (print, radio, slide) will be distributed over 3 years; workshops and meetings will be held for MOHSS field staff to provide coordination and training. In-service training will be given MOHSS personnel, as well as some short-term overseas training for Nutrition Division staff. Technical training for non-MOHSS staff and two nutritional manuals are planned. With the aid of the Ministry of Education, nutrition education will be incorporated into school grades six to nine, and teacher training curricula will be developed and evaluated.