TARGETED MALNOURISHED CHILD PROGRAM

THIS EVALUATION COVERS THE PERIOD 5/76 TO 5/78 AND IS BASED ON MALNUTRITION STATISTICS, FOOD DISTRIBUTION DATA, FIELD REPORTS, AND A PREVIOUS EVALUATION. THE PROJECT WAS EFFECTIVE IN REDUCING MALNUTRITION. THE EDUCATION COMPONENT PROGRESSED RAPIDLY WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE INFRASTRUCTURE. WORKSHOPS WERE CONDUCTED ON A NATIONAL LEVEL WITH BROAD PARTICIPATION. DIDATIC MATERIALS WERE DESIGNED. THE PROJECT IS NOW REACHING 90,000 MALNOURISHED CHILDREN OF A REVISED (FROM 160,000) TARGET OF 100,000-120,000. FOOD RATIONS FOR A MALNOURISHED CHILD AND HIS FAMILY WERE INCREASED TO FOUR KILOS A MONTH. THE SNS"S INCREASED PARTICIPATION AT THE CENTRAL LEVEL LED TO AN INTEGRATED NATIONAL FOOD SUPPLEMENT AND EDUCATION PROGRAM AND CLOSER COOPERATION BETWEEN THE REGIONS AND THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT IN RESOLVING MALNUTRITION PROBLEMS. IT ALSO GAVE SAWS/OFASA MORE TIME AND RESOURCES TO DEVOTE TO PROGRAM SUPERVISION AND EDUCATION PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT. THE INABILITY OF THE SNS TO DISTRIBUTE FOOD TO ALL TARGET AREAS ON SCHEDULE LED TO THE DESIGNATION OF A SPECIAL NUTRITION OFFICE TO OVERSEE THE ADMINISTRATION OF FOOD DISTRIBUTION. DUE TO BUREAUCRATIC DELAYS IN EDUCATION PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT, THE GRANT WILL BE EXTENDED FROM 6/30/78 TO 9/30/78. THE NUMBER OF MOTHERS TO BE TRAINED AND CLINIC COURSES TO BE GIVEN WILL BE LESS THAN ORIGINALLY PLANNED. THE PROJECT TAUGHT THE NEED FOR INFRASTRUCTURE WITH THE CAPACITY TO IDENTIFY THE TARGET POPULATION AND DISTRIBUTE FOOD ON SCHEDULE; SHARP ASSESSMENT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND MANAGEMENT CAPACITIES OF PROJECT IMPLEMENTORS; AND INCLUSION OF EVALUATION IN THE PROJECT DESIGN. DUE TO PROJECT SUCCESS, THE PROGRAM WAS INCORPORATED INTO THE GOC"S MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH PROGRAM AND A GOC COMMITMENT WAS MADE TO CONTINUE THE PROGRAM AFTER THE GRANT ENDS.