Good nutrition is important for everyone, but especially for people with special health needs such as pregnant and lactating women, children under 5 and people with chronic infectious diseases including TB and HIV. The Government of Zambia has worked with partners and stakeholders to put in place numerous interventions to improve the nutritional status of its citizens. One of these is the integration of nutrition assessment, counselling and support (NACS) into routine health service delivery. NACS can identify nutrition problems early, improve diet and nutritional status, prevent infection from contaminated food and water, and manage symptoms related to illness and medicine side effects. 

FANTA developed a package of NACS Training Materials for Community Volunteers in Zambia designed to guide facilitators in training community volunteers to provide nutrition screening, referral, and follow-up care at community level to prevent and manage malnutrition in people with chronic illnesses. The training materials include a facilitators guide and participant handouts. 

Nutrition Assessment, Counselling and Support (NACS) Training Manual for Community Volunteers: Facilitators’ Guide
The guide is designed to help facilitators conduct a 5-day training of community volunteers so they can take appropriate actions at the community level to prevent and manage malnutrition in people with chronic illnesses. 

Nutrition Assessment, Counselling and Support (NACS) Training Manual for Community Volunteers: Participant Handouts
The handouts are for use as reference during training and by participants when they are back at work.