Provision of integrated Health and Nutrition interventions for the vulnerable population affected by increased violence, flooding and food security in Canal-Pigi of Jonglei state, and Panyijar of Unity State, South Sudan. IMC UK's proposed project will provide critical lifesaving integrated health and nutrition services to the conflict-affected, internally displaced people (IDPs) and host populations in Canal-Pigi and Panyijar Counties in Jonglei and Unity State. The proposed response will reach 22,055 direct beneficiaries (including 2070 men, 9379 women, 5184 boys and 5422 girls) over 12 months in the targeted counties. For nutrition there is 15,968 direct beneficiaries (4273 boys, 4448 girls and 7247 pregnant and lactating women - PLW), including 7,144 for Canal/Pigi and 8823 for Panyjar. The direct number of beneficiaries for health is 14,163 (4815 male, 4957 female, 2,124 boys, 2,267 girls).  

The proposed nutrition response will focus on the treatment and prevention of acute malnutrition among children (boys and girls) aged 0-59 months and pregnant and lactating women, through the management of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) and moderate acute malnutrition (MAM), as well as provision of Maternal-Infant Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) focusing on the first 1000 days of a child's life in targeted health and nutrition sites. IMC-UK will directly implement nutrition activities in 18 OTP/TSFP/SC sites in Canal-Pigi (8 OTP/TSFP and 1 SC) and Panyijar (9 OTP/TSF). IMC-UK will continuously monitor the nutrition status of the population and the nutrition response through the routine collection and analysis of nutrition program data, mass mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) screening and periodic SMART surveys funded by other donors.

The health activities will be implemented by IMC UK in Canal-Pigi. The health activities will primarily focus on strengthening the capacity of the county health department and health workers in providing integrated quality essential health care services, particularly maternal and child health care including antenatal care, postnatal care basic emergency obstetric care, communicable and non-communicable diseases treatment and surveillance, treatment for injuries and basic first aid, immunization and Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) health education at the facility and community level through BMI using standard IEC and BCC materials provision of essential pharmaceuticals and medical commodities early detection and response to outbreaks and, referral services. IMC UK will deploy one mobile medical team into Alam to ensure the delivery of basic health services.

IMC will ensure MHPSS services are made available for people with mental, neurological and substance use disorders through provision of evidence-based quality mental health and psychosocial support services using WHO-mhGAP-HIG guideline. IMC will integrate psychosocial support into the mobile health team's service delivery, which will target locations within proximity to refer to ECHO-funded facilities supported by IMC. Mental Health officers will take the lead in organizing psychosocial support activities, including PFA, identification and referral of basic needs and mental health case management to effectively offer support to crisis-affected populations. IMC will also work with affected communities to build awareness-raising on stress and anxiety/fear reactions, loss and grief, promotion of positive coping mechanisms, and more. Mental Health Officers will be trained on providing mental health awareness and psychoeducation sessions to communities. 

The nutrition and health activities will be integrated, through close coordination and joint programming. The project will further complement and strengthen IMC UK's existing interventions.