Educate 357 Moms About Health & Nutrition in Haiti

The Care Group (CG) strategy is a community-based approach to health that empowers members to become more aware of their challenges and be active participants in health behavior change. Feed the Children (FEED) organizes volunteer mothers into CGs and these mothers become leaders, known as Care Group Volunteers (CGVs). They are trained on health and nutrition practices and make a commitment to replicate and share their new knowledge, skills, and practices with other mothers in their communities.

Since June, FEED continued to host training sessions for CGVs on Infant and Young Child Feeding and a large cooking demonstration for both CGVs and community members. FEED has observed increased dedication and motivation among CGVs and they have received encouragement from community leaders and husbands for their noble work! In addition to monthly supervision visits conducted to strengthen the work of CGVs, training and coordination meetings are conducted to review progress, validate reports, and plan the activities and training for the month.

On May 26, FEED staff celebrated Haiti Mother's Day with CGVs and women from the community. The day focused on the advantages of breastfeeding and included sketches and role playing activities, and all beneficiary mothers received a gift from FEED for the occasion!

Since June 85 CGVs received training on health and nutrition lessons from health promoters, 781 community women received lessons from CGVs and 3,648 children under the age of 5 benefited, along with their mothers.

Julienne is a 30-year-old mother, wife and vendor in the local market. She has 1 son, Dalensky, age 17-months. In the community where she lives, there is only one poorly equipped health center to serve the entire population and there is no drinking water. Before the implementation of the program in her community, she did not have any knowledge about the three food groups, balanced meals or the importance of breastfeeding and her son was often very sick.

“I feel very bad, I could say that I exist, but I do not live. My son Dalensky is often sick, this is my biggest problem. The health center in the area is not too equipped to provide necessary care. I do not have the financial means to take him to a private clinic. All this makes my situation worse.”

Through the CG trainings and lessons, she has acquired vital knowledge to take good care of her son and his health has improved. “I never imagined how I can feed my baby with the little I have. This program gives me knowledge and to me it is the most extraordinary of all others.”