Maternal and Child Health Enhancement Program in South Sudan

This project aims to improve the health of 82 020 mothers newborns children and their family members in the Jonglei and Upper Nile States in South Sudan a country where maternal and child mortality rates are among the highest in the world. Maternal Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) services in South Sudan are either weak or completely lacking and this is compounded by inadequate nutrition and sanitation (safe disposal of wastewater) and a lack of preventative health care practices. This project integrates agricultural nutritional and clinical activities to: (1) improve the nutrition of mothers and children by increasing food security or access to safe sufficient and nutritious foods and nutritional supplements; (2) increase women's access to reproductive health services by setting up new and strengthening existing local health clinics; and (3) implement initiatives that aim to prevent and cure the main diseases and infections threatening mothers and children. The project also aims to improve the ability of local actors to undertake integrated agricultural nutritional and clinical activities. Some project activities include: (1) increasing access to diverse foods improving agricultural production at the household level and improving access to nutritious food for infants children and pregnant and lactating mothers; (2) increasing access to MNCH services and increasing the ability of local actors to participate in MNCH initiatives; and (3) increasing access to services that reduce the incidence of malaria anemia acute respiratory infections intestinal parasitic infections and diarrhea and increasing the ability of women men and children to adopt behaviour that reduces the transmission and incidence of these diseases. The local implementing partner organization is Christian Mission Aid (CMA).

The expected intermediate outcomes for this project include: (1) improved nutrition and food security for mothers and children; (2) strengthened local health systems in maternal newborn and child health; and (3) enhanced prevention of diseases that affect mothers and children.