–anaemia reducing
Though faced with some challenges the Ministry of Health’s basic nutrition programme (BNP) popularly referred to as the ‘sprinkles programme’ will be extended for another year since its benefit to pregnant women and their children has been great.
Anaemia among the two groups is set to be reduced to 35% at the end of December when the current phase of the programme comes to an end, Minister of Health Dr Leslie Ramsammy told Stabroek News.
Ramsammy said he is in the process of drafting a new project set to commence at the start of next year with funding from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), which has assisted with funding the programme from its inception in 2003.
He said while the sprinkles nutrition aspect of the programme will continue he is not so sure about the coupons that were handed out to the mothers after they gave birth.
At present, the programme entails pregnant mothers being given a locally made nutritional supplement which is sprinkled on food after it has been cooked and does not change the taste of the meal. After the child is born and when he or she reaches the age of six months the mothers are given coupons to be redeemed for plantain flour, barley and corn meal at specified locations. The programme is being executed at all health centres.
Health centres staff members are trained for six months to assist the pregnant mothers in adhering to using the sprinkles and the importance of their babies being given the right nourishment
In a report compiled by the ministry earlier this year, which traced the progress of the programme, the shortage of qualified personnel, high staff turnover, low salaries and a disorganised work environment were some of the challenges. It is also difficult and costly to access some Amerindian areas and anaemia, according to the report, remains high in those areas coupled with complementary feeding practices not being improved significantly. The report said that anaemia continues because of the economic, physical and cultural barriers to a varied and balanced diet coupled with inadequate water and sanitation infrastructure.
Notwithstanding the challenges, the report said, it is expected that anaemia among children and pregnant women will be reduced by 30%. There was also an increase in breastfeeding from 60% to 75%. Fifty per cent of the women who participated in the programme are said to be in compliance with the iron supplementation and at the end of the programme some 70% of the children who participated would be in compliance with the same supplementation.
With regard to lessons learnt, the report said appropriate child feeding must be ensured and realistic output targets set. The programme also needs to take into account daily constraints faced by mothers related to life-work balance.
The report also suggested that there is need for partnering with communities and non-governmental organisations and that research and evaluation should be routinely disseminated, while a technical steering committee should be set up to ensure communication among programmes.
Initially when the programme became a reality in 2003 it was expected that it would be discontinued in 2007, but because of its success it was extended until the end of this year and come next year it would be once again implemented.
The programme is two-pronged as it not only addresses the nutritional status of the children but mothers are also targeted through education. There is an educational component which teaches the mothers how to use the sprinkles and how to nourish their children better. The importance of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of the child’s life is also emphasized during these sessions. Many mothers have reportedly seen the importance of exclusive breastfeeding as they realize that giving their infants feed or water very early on can expose them to water-borne diseases.