Strengthening Health, Nutrition, and Community Resilience

Our programs focus on improving food security, nutrition, and health outcomes for vulnerable populations in conflict-affected regions.

Through integrated interventions combining healthcare, nutrition support, community education, and economic empowerment, we aim to reduce disease burden and strengthen community resilience.

A. People living with chronic diseases (HIV, diabetes, hypertension, tuberculosis)

1. Targeted food support and individualized nutritional monitoring:
   Regular distribution of nutritious food kits and adapted supplements (in collaboration with local health structures and nutritional NGOs). Beneficiaries will be identified through the registers of health centres and monitored monthly by community workers to assess nutritional status and adjust care.
   Actors involved: Primary health care teams, National Nutrition Programme (PRONANUT), community relays.
   Monitoring: Nutritional monitoring sheets and monthly reports from health structures.

2. Awareness-raising sessions on nutrition and chronic disease management:
   Organization of monthly educational workshops in health facilities and communities to strengthen knowledge on balanced diet, medication adherence and prevention of complications.
   Actors involved: Nutritionists, registered nurses, patient associations.
   Follow-up: Attendance sheets, pre/post-knowledge test questionnaires.

3. Training of health personnel and community relays:
   Practical training on clinical nutrition, monitoring of anthropometric indicators and case management combining chronic disease and malnutrition.
   Actors: Bunia Health Zone, Provincial Health Division, technical partners (WHO, UNICEF).
   Follow-up: Training reports and post-training evaluations.

4. Implementation of an integrated monitoring system:
   Monthly collection of data on patient evolution (weight, BMI, blood glucose, blood pressure, etc.) to adapt interventions and prevent relapses.
   Tools: Standardized registries and community database consolidated by the health zone.

B. Children under five years of age and pregnant/lactating women

1. Systematic screening and monitoring of malnutrition:
   Regular deployment of community screening campaigns (MUAC, weight/height) and referral to health facilities for care.
   Actors: Community relays, nurses, nutritional agents.
   Follow-up: Monthly screening reports and PRONANUT database.

2. Distribution of adapted nutritional supplements:
   Provision of fortified food supplements (vitamins, iron, Plumpy'Nut, fortified flours) according to national guidelines.
   Actors: PRONANUT, UNICEF, local health structures.
   Monitoring: Distribution records, nutritional monitoring maps for children and mothers.

3. Family training and awareness:
   Educational workshops on exclusive breastfeeding, food diversification, hygienic meal preparation and malnutrition prevention.
   Actors: Health workers, women's associations, community relays.
   Follow-up: Participation sheets and community observation of eating practices.

4. Community support groups:
   Setting up and supervising groups of model mothers for the sharing of experiences, monitoring of child development and nutritional support for pregnant women.
   Follow-up: Monthly support group reports and supervisory visits.

C. Elderly

1. Food support and personalized nutritional care:
   Distribution of food rations adapted to the physiological needs of the elderly and medical support to prevent undernutrition.
   Actors: Health centres, community organisations, social services.
   Follow-up: Nutrition scorecards and distribution reports.

2. Raising awareness among families and caregivers:
   Educational sessions on undernutrition prevention, hydration and basic home care.
   Actors: Community relays, nurses, social workers.
   Follow-up: Home visits and satisfaction surveys.

3. Community monitoring and alert system:
   Establishment of a network of community observers responsible for identifying early signs of undernutrition and referring cases to health centres.
   Follow-up: Community registries and monthly reports.

4. Geriatric Nutrition Training:
   Capacity building sessions for health workers on nutrition management among vulnerable older adults.
   Follow-up: Training reports and post-session evaluations.

D. Families and Communities

1. Community food security campaigns:
   Organization of community days and radio programs on nutrition, hygiene and food security.
   Actors: Community leaders, local radios, development committees.
   Follow-up: Activity reports and participation rates.

2. Promotion of local agricultural practices:
   Training of households on sustainable agricultural techniques (vegetable gardens, family livestock) to strengthen food autonomy.
   Actors: Local agricultural service, partner NGOs.
   Monitoring: Number of households involved and estimated agricultural production.

3. Creation of community production groups:
   Establishment of cooperatives and community gardens to diversify and secure food sources.
   Monitoring: Activity records, production yield.

4. Hygiene and Family Equity Awareness:
   Community workshops on equitable distribution of resources, hygienic food preparation and disease prevention.
   Follow-up: Behaviour change assessments via home visits.