Life-Saving Programs
Providing food and health to fight malnutrition and undernourishment in Nicaragua
Platform of Health
These core Life-Saving Programs REVERSE AND PREVENT malnutrition and undernourishment:
Healthy Beginnings Program
The priority of this program is :
- The First 1,000 Days of Life (conception to the child’s second birthday)
- To educate and empower pregnant women and those of childbearing age
- To deliver infants with healthy birthweights and promote breastfeeding
ORPHANetwork SUPPORTS WOMEN AND INFANTS IN SEVERAL CRITICAL WAYS
Training & Personal Attention
RNs/Nutritionists provide training and support for pregnant/lactating woman
Monitor weight gain by taking anthropometric measurements of moms and babies every 3 months.
Administer Vitamin A to all children 6 months to 5 years old.
Pre and Post-Natal Support
Monitor/treat women of reproductive age who are anemic due to iron deficiency
Provide vitamin and mineral supplements to pregnant and lactating women
Treatment for Malnourishment
Provide take-home fortified rice to pregnant women who are malnourished according to their BMI (Body Mass Index)
Bi-monthly home visits for at-risk pregnant women and malnourished children
Administer Zinc to malnourished children 6 months to 5 years old
Topics include, but are not limited to:
- Human sexuality, sexual health, family planning
- Pregnancy fetal development, nutrition, disease/alarming signs in pregnancy, labor
- Safety, women’s self-esteem, violence, human rights
- Life skills, health and hygiene, first aid, home management
- Newborn care, parenting, breastfeeding and education on complementary feeding, vaccines, child development
- In addition, the program reaches out to young women ages 12-16 to prevent teen pregnancy and sexual abuse.
%
OF INFANTS ARE BORN AT A HEALTHY BIRTH WEIGHT*
%
OF MOTHERS BREASTFEED THEIR INFANTS*
%
OF WOMEN WERE CURED OF ANEMIA*
Nutrition, HEALTH & HYGIENE ProgramS
Arming children with the best defense against compromised health, feeding programs provide a nutrient-dense 850-calorie meal each weekday. ORPHANetwork staff that are licensed health professionals also administer deworming medications, vitamins, and bi-annual nutritional evaluations of children.
ORPHANetwork HAS A 3-PRONG APPROACH TO MEETING THE NUTRITIONAL NEEDS OF MALNOURISHED OR UNDERNOURISHED CHILDREN.
CHILDREN 6 MONTHS – 1 YEAR OLD
In addition to encouraging breastfeeding up to 6 months of age, complementary feeding is introduced. Parents are trained in the introduction of food into the infant’s diet to meet ongoing nutritional needs.
CHILDREN 1-12 YEARS OLD
ORPHANetwork’s nutritionists develop an 850-calorie menu for daily use at 50+ Local Church Initiative partner feeding centers. In addition to providing soy-fortified rice, ORPHANetwork provides funding to the pastor to purchase supplemental foods to comply with the menu. Menu oversight is performed by the assigned nurse or nutritionist.
ADDITIONAL TAKE HOME MEALS
For malnourished children under age five and malnourished pregnant women, ORPHANetwork provides a box (32 meals) of soy fortified rice to take home as an additional supplement to improve nutrition.
%
OF CHRONICALLY MALNOURISHED CHILDREN CURED*
%
OF ACUTELY MALNOURISHED CHILDREN CURED*
%
OF CHILDREN RECEIVED AT LEAST ONE DENTAL VISIT*
DR. WINDY MASON-LESLIE
Stepping onto the plane for her first trip to Nicaragua Windy had no idea what lives she would help change. Nicaragua was new, different and in need. She was attending a serving trip with a group from her church. Once people learned Windy was a pediatric physician, families started bringing their children to her for her assistance.
Experiencing the need first-hand Windy learned the need of families to provide proper nutrition to their children. Since she was not able to leave all the children starving, Windy sought out a solution – a Nicaraguan medical director to oversee communities, evaluating medical needs and outcomes.
JOIN DR. WINDY!
You can invest in a community of children to provide nutritious meals, clean water, deworming pills and necessary vitamins too!
