Maternal Nutrition Program
Eastern Province, Sri Lanka
The Need
Due to lack of income generating opportunities and high food prices in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka, malnutrition in adults and children is extremely prevalent. Child malnutrition has remained high in the Eastern and Northern Provinces in recent years, peaking at 46% in 2010 compared to the national average of 29% according to health surveys done by ICF and USAID. Additionally, the national average infant mortality rate in Sri Lanka in 2012 was 9 per 1000 live births, while in the Eastern province it is 19.2 per 1000 live births. It is evident that there is a lack of nutrition within children, mothers and pregnant women that create serious health issues which can often lead to death.
The Solution
To assist pregnant women and reduce the infant mortality rate, IMHO Canada and Anpuneri Canada supported the provision of nutritional supplements for underweight, pregnant women, specifically those who live below the poverty line. We delivered two packets of nutritional grain mix, each packet weighing 750g, to 170 pregnant women or new mothers every month. The nutritional packets were made from black gram, green gram, ground nuts, gingelli, red rice and sugar. The packets were supplied to the mothers by the public health midwife, psychiatric social worker and psychiatric social assistance supervisor.
Resources
This program was monitored by the Medical Health Officer in the region who is responsible for mother and baby health and they are an integral part of the program. Additionally, the success and operations were supported by IMHO and their donors, and special gratitude to Dr. Judy Ramesh Jeyakumar for his continued leadership on this program.
How You Can Help
Impact
IMHO Canada has supported the Maternal Nutrition Program for over 5 years. These efforts have helped reduce the rates of maternal and child mortality and premature births, and have also helped reduce the incidence of underweight and undernourished babies. The decrease in rates show the important impact this program had on the lives of many mothers and children who are in need of support.
Through this program it was our goal to provide health care and the best opportunities for the mothers and children to survive and flourish. The program supported women in their most vulnerable stage and children at the very start of their lives, therefore it kick started their health journey and our mission was to support that. This worked towards our UN Sustainable Development Goal #3 - Good Health and Well Being. This goal is about ensuring healthy lives and promoting well being for all at all ages.
Reversed land degradation from war and migration in recent years.
Increased agricultural opportunities and sustainable living for underserved communities in the area.
# of people directly benefited
# of people indirectly benefited