World Vision Armenia, through the support
of WVUS, has initiated a Maternal/Child Health and Nutrition (MCHN) program
aimed at preventing disease and improving the nutritional status of children
and mothers/caregivers in Gyumri Area Development Programme (ADP), northern
Armenia, where malnutrition levels are alarming.
In 2000, the UN World Food Program (WFP)
estimated that Armenia suffered from 20%-34% rate of malnutrition, placing
it in the worst nutritional category amongst countries in transition.
A severe decline in living standards over the past decade and widespread poverty became a major cause for high levels of malnutrition and a significant increase in stunting, wasting and micronutrient deficiency among Armenian children. A lack of awareness of healthy food contributed to the nutritional problems. Today, a significant number of Armenia's families follow unhealthy dietary habits, spending their limited income on food products of poor quality and limited nutritional value.
In the first phase of the MCHN program, World Vision Armenia conducted a health and nutrition survey among 1100 sponsored children and 700 mothers/caregivers in Gyumri ADP.
According to the survey, the majority of children and mothers/caregivers suffer from inadequate nutrition due to both deficiency of vitamins and nutrients, and an unbalanced diet. Over 10% of the children have stunted growth and 12% are underweight. The survey revealed numerous health problems among the population of Gyumri as a result of poor nutrition.
WV Armenia, in partnership with the World Food Programme, currently provides nutritionally balanced meals to over 3200 children in the schools and kindergartens in Gyumri ADP through its school feeding project.
Ten-year-old Katya Harutunian has been involved in the school feeding project since November 2002. The girl's father died over 10 years ago, her mother is unemployed and the family with three children lives on a government allowance. Along with the other schoolchildren in Mush neighbourhood, Katya receives daily nutritious lunches that include soup, salad and dairy products. She likes the food and has already gained three kilograms. "All the parents like the school feeding program. Our children became healthier and school attendance has improved," says Katya's mother, Greta.
However, the food provision itself cannot resolve the problems of health and nutrition. The real cause of malnutrition in Armenia is not only social injustice and economic deprivation, but also the lack of public health awareness among families and communities. WV Armenia's survey revealed a prevalence of unhealthy eating habits, lack of knowledge on healthy food, as well as a negligent attitude towards health and nutritional issues among the population in Gyumri ADP.
In the next phase of its program, WV Armenia is planning a multidisciplinary nutrition intervention that includes food assistance to help the families meet their basic dietary needs, as well as promotion of healthy food and lifestyle, dietary diversification, nutritional education and advocacy.
After the successful implementation of the program in Gyumri, WV Armenia plans to start similar programs in other ADPs in various regions of Armenia.
Email newsvision@wvi.org for more information.