Integrated, equitable, safe and dignified access to health, nutrition, FSL and WASH services, including MHPSS and protection programming for IDPs, returnees and vulnerable host population in Greater Nasir County, Upper Nile State, South Sudan Relief International (RI) proposes to reduce morbidity and mortality of 79,311 targeted beneficiaries in Nasir county by facilitating equitable, safe and dignified access to critical emergency services. RI’s primary focus will be to increase access to essential primary health care services prevent, detect and respond to disease outbreaks and provide integrated health, nutrition, FSL and WASH services, including MHPSS and protection programming. 

The proposed program will allow for the continued operation of two static Primary Health Care Units. The PHCCs will provide a full package of services as outlined by the South Sudan Ministry of Health and will have the capacity to offer support for mental health and psychosocial support and Clinical Management of Rape (CMR). Additionally, 3 Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) will be established to reach remote communities. MMUs will provide the minimum service package and provide prompt responses to any disease outbreaks.  RI will prevent, detect, and respond to epidemic-prone diseases through increased EPI coverage and by strengthening the capacity of health workers and communities on disease surveillance and outbreak response preparedness.

RI will provide integrated nutrition services through the operation of 15 Mobile Nutrition Units (MNUs) and will provide treatment to children with MAM. Through the MNUs, RI will undertake nutrition screenings and ongoing surveillance, referring cases of acute malnutrition for lifesaving treatment in OTP or TSFP. Additionally, the project will scale-up maternal, infant and young child nutrition (MIYCN) through the promotion of early, exclusive and continued breastfeeding through support to mothers and counselling in the MMUS. 

RI’s emergency WASH component will contribute to improved status of beneficiaries through timely and equitable access to safe, potable and adequate water in targeted communities in Nasir County.  The intervention is designed to mitigate and prevent GBV by ensuring adequate and timely provision of WASH services, since women and girls are the primary direct users of WASH services, at household and community levels. The proposed WASH intervention will be implemented within catchment areas of the health, nutrition and static protection sites to address acute vulnerabilities and achieve a comprehensive impact. The integrated approach will address the high levels of malnutrition by targeting the families of SAM and MAM children for WASH interventions thereby acknowledging that poor WASH services are a key driver of poor health and malnutrition. Activities will include the establishment of a new water point, latrine construction, WASH NFI distribution, rehabilitation of boreholes and the training of Water Users Committees (WUCs) and pump mechanics.

FSL interventions will be closely linked to nutrition activities and will be aimed at increasing emergency food production, improving diet diversity and by providing coping strategies for vulnerable people. RI will establish 12 demonstration gardens and conduct trainings with PLW’s visiting the site. Additionally, RI will establish demonstration gardens at static protection spaces and conduct trainings on best agronomic practices and nutrition to women within these sites. RI will also train Community Nutrition Volunteers (CNVs) who will share key messaging and conduct cooking demonstrations at community level.

Protection activities proposed under the project will be conducted by local partner, Community Action Organization (CAO) who will continue to run two existing CFS and will establish one additional CFS and two WGFS. CAO will conduct child protection and GBV activities aimed at meeting the critical emergency needs of 17,500 vulnerable girls, boys, women and men.