Sahel – Nutrition Health Water Sanitation and Hygiene Assistance – Action Against Hunger 2018

March 2018 - Conditions across the Sahel belt and neighbouring countries in Sub-Saharan Africa have deteriorated resulting in a humanitarian crisis exacerbated by a range of factors including poverty political and economic instability conflict and climate change. The current conditions with respect to rainfall resemble those seen in 2011-2012 when drought and crop production shortfalls caused a major food crisis. The drought situation is expected to result in intensified food insecurity and increased humanitarian needs throughout 2018 and into the next year. With the support of GAC Action Against Hunger is helping to assist up to 1 467 170 affected people in eight Sahel and neighbouring countries: Mauritania Senegal Burkina Faso Mali Niger Chad Nigeria and Cameroon. Project activities include: (1) supporting the treatment of severe acute malnutrition cases with or without serious medical complications for children affected by severe acute malnutrition; (2) setting up strategies to promote good food practices and behaviors taking into account the beneficiaries’ socio-economic and cultural background; (3) reinforcing the capacity of community actors on pregnancy monitoring danger signs detection and assisted childbirth; (4) rehabilitating putting in place and ensuring follow-up on the water sanitation and hygiene minimal package in health and community structures; and (5) reinforcing the decision-making power of women in the prevention of severe acute malnutrition through sensitization sessions and nutritious local food vouchers.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) increased coverage of the integrated protocol for the management of acute malnutrition; (2) improved knowledge of best food and hygiene practices among the targeted populations particularly mothers and pregnant and lactating women; (3) improved capacity of the health and community resources systems on the management of malnutrition and reproductive health; (4) increased access to water sanitation and hygiene services in communities with a high prevalence of malnutrition affected by drought with special attention given to the needs of women and girls; and (5) increased resilience capacity of women to face nutritional emergencies and deal with their consequences. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crisis or that are facing acute food insecurity.