By Isatou Fofana
In its efforts to promote nutritional statuses of mothers and children the National Nutrition Agency (NaNA) has initiated a programme called the Mid-UpperArm Circumference (Mother MUAC). This is a WHO concept for mothers to access the nutritional status of their children in their various communities.
The programme puts mothers at the centre of malnutrition screening strategies. It recognises that mothers are in the best position to detect the earliest signs of malnutrition, and leverages the fact that mothers want to participate as fully as possible in promoting the health of their children.
The Programme Officer at NaNA, Alieu Kujabi, explained that the programme was initially piloted in 30 communities in URR, 15 communities in NBR and is intended for mothers to be able to diagnose early signs of malnutrition among children 6 to 59 months old for timely intervention.
He said the activity takes house-to-house active screening approach and that if institutionalised, it will impact positively on under-five morbidity and mortality in our communities.
To popularise the MUAC concept NaNA with support from UNICEF recently conducted a series of sensitisation activities for 300 mothers of childbearing age, in NBR, CRR and URR. The activity was carried out by community
