Health and Nutrition Assistance for Vulnerable Populations in Zimbabwe - Save the Children 2009

The people of Zimbabwe are coping with the impacts of an unprecedented cholera outbreak the world's highest inflation rate and one of the world's lowest life expectancies. Over 5 million people are in need of food assistance. Another year of erratic weather is anticipated in 2009 which combined with the failure to procure and adequately distribute seed stock is expected to lead to another failed harvest. Unemployment is estimated at 80 percent in Zimbabwe which also has one of the world's highest rates of HIV/AIDS. CIDA's contribution is supporting Save the Children to provide primary health care services and nutritional support to vulnerable communities of Binga and Nyaminyami districts in Zimbabwe. Project activities include training health workers on the integrated management of childhood illnesses; supplying essential drugs basic medical diagnostic equipment and related medical material to 20 health clinics; training 40 health workers in ante/postnatal care and obstetrics; providing 20 health clinics with essential laboratory material and reagents for ante/postnatal care and delivery kits; and providing supplementary feeding care to acutely malnourished children.