Moringa for Micronutrients

Short description

The project team will train Community health workers and Clinic based health workers on how to grow, harvest, process and utilize the Moringa food fortifier and these in turn will train women of child bearing age in the communities.


The problem we aim to solve

Micronutrient deficiencies among children 6 to 23 months is our target. Children of this group in Uganda lack access to diverse complementary foods and in turn miss out on diversity in micronutrients. This puts their bodies at risk of diseases such as Diarrhea, Pneumonia and Measles which are the leading killer diseases in this group.


Our solution

The project will target women with children 0 to 5 years because these are directly in charge of infant and young child feeding and can therefore use the acquired knowledge and skills to improve the micronutrient status of their children. The project team will train Community Health Extension Workers on how to grow, harvest, process and utilize the Moringa food fortifier and these in turn will train the women on the communities. In addition, a nutrition education package on use of Moringa food fortifier for improving the micronutrient diversity of complementary foods will be provided to women during antenatal and post-natal health center visits through community health workers.

The project will set up Moringa seedling farms run by local farming groups and these will serve as both demonstration farms for training community health worker and as distribution points for seedlings per community. The project team will provide Moringa seedlings, drying racks and educational materials on use of Moringa as a food fortifier. The team will rely on local, national and international partners to implement the project in select priority areas. The Ministry of Health for example will provide access to and coordinate Community health workers and Clinic based health workers. The Project will collaborate with the Ministry of Agriculture to increase access to Moringa seeds and tools for production.


The innovativeness of our approach

Industry manufactured Micronutrient powders are already being used in select communities to address micronutrient deficiencies among children. These are however are dependent on regular supply by partners. This Moringa food fortifier would readily be accessible to the children since it is being locally grown ad processed at home. The continuous supply of the product does not necessitate a supply chain making it a sustainable intervention.

Technologies and Methods

Agricultural technologies: Agricultural inputs to be used include nursery beds, Moringa seeds and agricultural tools like hoes and watering cans.

Education and Trainings: Local communities will receive agricultural education on Moringa. Health workers women will receive nutritional education. Trainings will utilize flip charts and take home pictorial brochures in the local languages.

Food processing technologies: The project will utilize safe post-harvest handling practices, indoor drying on racks and packaging in airtight opaque containers.

Potential Partners

  • Ministry of Health: For access to and coordination of District health workers.
  • Community health workers
  • Clinic based health workers
  • District health team and district local government: For coordination and mobilization of health workers at district level
  • Ministry of Agriculture:Increase access to Moringa seeds as well as tools for production
  • International organizations for community linkage though existing projects
  • Local farming groups for maintaining a seedling farm.

VOTE FOR THIS PROJECT

Voting ends on June 24, 2018, 11:59 pm (CEST).

562
Dankeschön!
Moringa for Micronutrients

Team: Ninsiima Catherine

Nabatanzi Maureen

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