Limited community knowledge of maternal healthcare and good nutrition has contributed to high rates of malnutrition in the Far West of Nepal. Rates of global acute malnutrition (GAM) above 10% are considered as a high concern. The area in which the Start Strong Project is based, experiences rates of 19%. Networks of Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs), traditional healers and community groups are currently underutilised, causing opportunities to identify, treat and prevent malnutrition to be missed. Furthermore, social and cultural norms often limit the support given to women, who lack access to the land, finance and training that would enable them to provide for their children.
In the Far West of Nepal, there is a lack of access to knowledge and training for malnutrition prevention at all stakeholder levels. In Bichhaya, 95% of people have never taken part in a nutrition workshop, with 34% of children falling under the category of Growth Promotion and Monitoring (GPM).
In order to prevent malnutrition in the future, the Start Strong Project will provide training on good nutritional practices to the wider community. Community-led activities will raise awareness of diet diversification and traditional healers will be provided with training on how to identify, treat and prevent malnutrition. Strengthening the role of women in the community is crucial in supporting mothers to give their children a strong start in life. Therefore, women will be provided with training and materials that will allow them to improve food security for their family’s future. The Start Strong project will support women by giving them the opportunity to develop their skills and provide a healthy and balanced diet for their entire family.
Dhandevi lives in Mugu with her daughter and husband. She recently began attending a Phase Farmers Group where she has learnt how to prepare nutritious food and discovered the importance of regular health check-ups for herself and her baby.
Give before 25th June 2021 and the UK Government will match all public donations. Help mother’s like Dhandevi to give their children a strong start to life.
If you would like to support the work of PHASE Worldwide and help us to continue empowering people living in isolated regions of Nepal the best way to do so is through regular giving. Even the smallest amount a month can make a huge difference. As a regular supporter you will receive exclusive updates and will become part of the PHASE family. You can set up your regular gift easily and securely online.
Many of you may remember that last Christmas we raised money for a Girls Empowerment Programme in Rugin. We have just had the 6 month report from Nepal which we will be sharing very soon. This year we’ll be asking for support for our ‘Stay Strong Appeal’ as we move…
We are so excited to share that we have now completed our Start Strong Project in Rugin and Bichhya, Bajura, Far West Nepal. As a UK Aid Match-funded project, we could not have achieved the positive outcomes we are evidencing without your dedicated and generous support. On behalf of our…
My career in the Development/Charity sector started 25 years ago, at the time deciding to do a degree in Development at UEA in Norwich, at the time one of the few Development courses in the country. It was a big decision, for an 18-year-old with no real international connection. The…