South Sudan: RMF UNICEF Malnutrition Treatment and Prevention Program Jonglei State
Meeting Medical and Nutritional Needs: Q4 2016
February 19, 2017
Dr. Taban Martin Vitale
Summary of Activities
The overall goal of this project is to reduce the global acute malnutrition (GAM) rate to an acceptable level of less than 15% in each of the payams assigned to RMF. This will be in line with standards set by the South Sudan National Nutrition Program.
Implemented activities in line with RMF-sponsored activities and project objectives:
- Procured and provided additional scholastic materials for the OTP/SC/TSFP (Outpatient Therapeutic Programs/Stabiliazation Centers/Targeted Supplementary Feeding Program) sites in Ayod and Boma.
- Supported the routine running of OTP/SC/TSFP activities in Ayod and Boma.
- Coordinated and delivered an adequate amount of nutrition supplies to all RMF sites in Ayod and Boma through the logistic cluster and regular UNHAS (UN Humanitarian Air Service) flights.
- Continued to procure and provide basic items (soaps, salt, and sitting mats) for the infant and young child feeding (IYCF) mother-to-mother support groups.
- Facilitated M&E visit to Boma and mentored all nutrition staff.
- Continued to support satellite phone services through payment of monthly subscription fees, as this is the only means of communication in those hard to reach areas where RMF works and where routine phone services are not available.
- Procured and delivered an adequate amount of essential foodstuffs for our teams working in the OTP/SC/TSFP sites where basic commodities are not available.
- Facilitated in-country travel of nutrition staff between Juba and different nutrition centers with UNHAS flights.
- Continued facilitation of our team to participate in all coordination activities at national and state levels.
- Continued support of high-speed WIFI internet service in the Juba office to enable easy coordination.

Results &
ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Medical Services Provided
Filling in the Gap
This project mainly targets the management of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) and moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) children under 5 and pregnant and lactating women (PLW). However, some of the children and adults come to our units due to health-related problems, since there are no healthcare services in our areas of operation.
Some of the conditions our team sees:
- Malaria
- Respiratory Tract Infections
- Diarrheal Diseases
- Intestinal Worm Infestation
- Skin Infections
- Gunshot Wounds
- Enteric Fever

Providing Technology
Increased Efficacy
The RMF Juba-based team, visiting nutrition staff from the various field locations, and JTH staff continued benefiting from the high-speed WIFI internet service installed in RMF’s office. Monthly payment of Thuraya (satellite phone) subscription fees enabled effective communication and coordination without interruptions.

Services Provided
Improving Quality of Life
The communities in Boma and Ayod in particular are delighted with our services. During the reporting quarter, a total of 701 SAM and 2,196 MAM children, as well as 1,232 PLW were enrolled in our feeding program. 594 and 1,763 children received albendazole and vitamin A supplementation, respectively, hence improving quality of life for children and pregnant and lactating women.

Seeing Results
Fully Recovered Patients
86% of the admitted SAM cases fully recovered, which is a good indicator, as the proportion of recovered children was above the 75% recommended by South Sudan’s MOH and international protocols.

Potable Water and Nutrition Supplies
Meeting Basic Needs
Our nutrition field based teams continued to have clean, safe drinking water through the usage of the provided water purifying equipment. RMF also provided continued replenishment of nutrition supplies in all of our OTP and SC sites through chartered commercial and UNHAS operated aircrafts.

Providing Jobs
Empowering the Community
The nutrition project offers employment opportunities for South Sudanese nationals at national, state, county, and village levels.

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Photos
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Numbers
Served
- Direct project beneficiaries are approximately 140,517 people living in the payams assigned to RMF, projected from the 2008 South Sudan Population and Housing Census.
- The project aims to provide treatment and multi-micronutrients to about 4,548 SAM (Severe Acute Malnutrition) children, 16,267 MAM (Moderate Acute Malnutrition) children, and 7,569 PLW (Pregnant and Lactating Women).

More Reports on: RMF UNICEF Malnutrition Treatment and Prevention Program Jonglei State Archive
Country Page: South Sudan
Initiative Page: RMF UNICEF Malnutrition Treatment and Prevention Program Jonglei State