Providing only breast milk for the first 6 months of an infant’s life (referred to as exclusive breastfeeding) and continuing breastfeeding until a child is 2 years of age are practices that can significantly reduce and prevent infant and child deaths. Exclusive breastfeeding in particular is a key practice in preventing child deaths.
Dr. Hanifa Bachou discusses how FANTA works to strengthen the health and nutrition of vulnerable children and mothers by increasing the protection, promotion, and support of breastfeeding in countries like Uganda.
FANTA and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) hosted a technical meeting on July 15–16, 2014, to reach consensus on a global dietary diversity indicator to use as a proxy for assessing the micronutrient adequacy of women’s diets. The meeting built on research carried out by the Women’s Dietary Diversity Project (WDDP).
FANTA is working with the Lesotho Ministry of Health to improve nutrition services for HIV-positive pregnant and lactating women and their children. Through training of trainers on NACS, FANTA is strengthening participants’ knowledge of the causes and consequences of malnutrition in HIV-affected populations and helping to improve skills in nutritional assessment and classification and nutrition counseling.
Health experts from around the world will meet in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, at the weeklong 2014 Micronutrient Forum Global Conference to share the latest information on the design and implementation of programs aimed at reducing micronutrient malnutrition. At this year’s Forum, FANTA’s Ethiopia Project Manager, Dr. Telahun Teka, will moderate a session on multisector engagement to reduce micronutrient deficiencies in vulnerable populations
FANTA is working with in-country partners in Malawi to strengthen health systems and boost health provider capacity for delivering quality nutrition services. In the year ahead, FANTA will help strengthen coordination among various nutrition actors and will develop tools and provide training that will empower health workers to improve nutrition care of their clients.
To prevent malnutrition and improve the nutritional status of people affected by infectious diseases, particularly HIV and TB, FANTA supports implementation of the nutrition assessment, counseling, and support (NACS) approach in a number of target countries. In observation of World TB Day, Dr. Serigne Diene, Technical Advisor for Nutrition and Infectious Diseases – Country Programs, and Rebecca Egan, Technical Advisor for Nutrition and Infectious Diseases, discuss why nutrition is so important in the treatment of TB.
FANTA is preparing to accelerate the integration of nutrition assessment, counseling, and support (NACS) into health care services in Kitwe District. Over the next 2 years, FANTA and other USAID-supported partners will build the capacity of the Government of Zambia to implement NACS and expand these nutrition services to other districts.
Representatives from Lesotho, Mozambique, and South Africa met in Maputo to discuss progress on the Partnership for HIV-Free Survival. Read about the meeting and report.
What does it take to be an effective nutrition practitioner? In November, Fellows and mentors participating in FANTA’s Uganda Nutrition Fellowship (UNF) program attended a professional development workshop designed to position the young professionals for success in their fellowship assignments—and, ultimately, in their careers.
