Strengthening lifesaving nutrition services in Pulka, Gwoza LGA, Borno State, Northeast Nigeria ltpgtltpgtltspangtltspangtThe overall objective of this project is to contribute lt/spangtltspangtltspangtto improving the nutrition status of the conflict-affected population, IDPs and Host Community, in Borno State, Northeast Nigeria, by improving their access to curative and preventive nutritional services. This objective aligns with the 2023 United Nations Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) and NHF first Reserve Allocation strategy to
address the rapidly deteriorating nutrition situation.lt/spangtlt/spangtlt/spangtltspangtltspangt lt/spangtlt/spangtlt/pgt

ltpgtltspangtCurative
nutritional services will be provided to children under 5 suffering
from Severe or Moderate Acute Malnutrition (SAM or MAM). lt/spangtltspangtSAM cases with medical
complications will be provided ltspangt24/7 treatment
in Pulka Stabilization
Centre (SC), located in
Pulka
PHCC,
that
PUI
has been supporting since December 2022. The SC bed
capacity will be increased from 20 to 40 beds to meet with the increasing
number of admissions. Referrals of cases to secondary health care will be
ensured whenever needed, and transportation allowance provided. Caretakers of
SAM children with medical complications will be supported with the provision of
food and hygiene supplies, to avoid any negative coping mechanism. Children
suffering from SAM without medical complications will be provided treatment in
2 Outpatient Therapeutic Programs (OTPs), one PUI supported
between
December 2022 and May 2023
in Damara MCH, and one PUI will start supporting
under this project in Pulka PHCC
to meet the increased number of OTP admissions. Admitted children will receive
treatment based on the National CMAM guidelines. To
ensure the quality of the assistance provided, PUI will ensure the training of
MoH staff on Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM), and of
Community Nutrition Mobilizers (CNM) on community mobilization/outreach
component. This will also contribute to rooting the project into the community
and ensuring the continuity of service when or
if
PUI exits.lt/spangtlt/spangtltspangtltspangt lt/spangtlt/spangtlt/pgt

ltpgtltspangtltspangtTreatment of children under 5 suffering from MAM will be provided through the Tom Brown approach, which PUI has been successfully implementing since January 2021 in Monguno. ltbgtPUI coordinated with another partner (ASHF) implementing TSFP program in Gwoza LGA under NHF grant to ensure there is no duplication of TSFP services in Pulka. lt/bgtFollowing this approach, mothers / caregivers of children suffering from MAM are gathered into groups where they are taught by Lead Mothers how to prepare a nutrient rich supplemental food with local ingredients over a 12 to 13 weeks program. Along with this cooking recipe, ltspangtmothers / caretakers are sensitized on lt/spangtltspangtthe use of clean water and hygiene practices. They are then encouraged to cascade the knowledge they have acquired to other community members. lt/spangtlt/spangtlt/spangtltspangtltspangt lt/spangtlt/spangtlt/pgt

ltpgtltspangtltspangtPreventive ltspangtnutritional services will consist in the active screening of children aged 06-59 months to ensure the early detection of SAM cases by 25 trained Community Nutrition Mobilizers (CNMs) living within the community. The CNMs will also ensure awareness raising sessions within the community on Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) best practices, including exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, and conduct cooking demonstrations in the community. They will oversee 50 Mother Care Groups (MCGs) of 15 mothers each, with lead mothers in charge of promoting child and mother health care services and the dissemination
of key nutrition messages.lt/spangtlt/spangtlt/spangtltspangtltspangt lt/spangtlt/spangtlt/pgt

ltpgtltspangtltspangtThe strong involvement of the
community through the network of CNMs and MCGs will ensure the beneficiaries’
ownership of the proposed project, as well as maximize its short- and long-term
impacts, also in terms of social norm change. lt/spangtlt/spangtltspangtltspangt lt/spangtlt/spangtlt/pgt

ltpgtltspangtltspangtThe project will integrate Protection and Gender targeted activities to mainstream, among others GBV prevention and lt/spangtlt/spangtltspangtltspangtmitigation measures in the nutrition responseltspangt. Therefore, safe and dignified quality nutrition services will be accessible for all, including lt/spangtltspangtpeople at heightenedlt/spangtltspangt risk of
violence and child nutrition status will be improved through positive social norms.lt/spangtlt/spangtlt/spangtlt/pgtltpgtltbrgtlt/pgtlt/pgt