Community based approaches to prevent and control malnutrition

Abstract

Community based nutrition programmes (CBNP) are increasingly being seen as a key turning point in implementation strategies leading to food and nutrition improvement as a sound basis for socio-economic development. In order to be effective and successful, CBNP require a constellation of methods and services planned from the community along with policy support for effective implementation, reaching the unreachable and empowering those at the grass roots. These also need to be guided and monitored using a set of indicators such as essential minimum needs indicators specific to the community's needs. The community based approach has also been embraced at the global level with the Millennium Development Goals, advocating achieving a set of eight goals ranging from reducing poverty and hunger to improving educational opportunities for all children and forming stronger global partnerships for development. Lessons learned from CBNP in Asia show that in order to be effective, the programmes must be adopted at national level and implemented at community level. National level leadership and commitment to sound nutrition improvement policies and goals, must be combined with basic services, mass mobilization, people empowerment and actions at community level.