International Medical Corps Combats Child Malnutrition in Sierra Leone

through Comprehensive Prevention Program

Jaya Vadlamudi
Senior Communications Officer
310.826.7800
jvadlamudi@InternationalMedicalCorps.org

Los Angeles, CA – October 29, 2010 –International Medical Corps is undertaking a 5-year
program to improve the long-term health and nutritional status of over 50,000 children and
mothers in Sierra Leone through ACDI/VOCA’s Sustainable Nutrition and Agriculture Promotion
(SNAP) project funded by USAID’s Food For Peace.

Rather than treating young children after they have already become malnourished, International
Medical Corps is implementing the Preventing Malnutrition in Children Under 2 Years of Age
Approach (PM2A) through the SNAP project. The PM2A model focuses on mothers/children
from pregnancy to age 2, so as to prevent conditions leading to malnutrition and protect children
during their most critical development period. The SNAP project combines the PM2A model
with agricultural initiatives implemented by ACDI/VOCA to improve long-term food security
across Sierra Leone’s most malnourished and impoverished chiefdoms in Bombali, Kailahun,
Koinadugu, and Tonkolili districts.

The success of the PM2A program will center around SNAP’s cadre of 1,335 volunteer “Lead
Mothers”- women chosen by their communities to act as role models and teach their peers
sustainable practices for good health and hygiene, appropriate feeding strategies for children,
preparation techniques for nutritious meals using local foods, and other skills. The Ministry of
Health and Sanitation will be closely involved in the project, to build the capacity of local health
providers at all levels. This will improve the health outcomes of mothers and children, as well as
all people in the project communities.

“With PM2A at its center, International Medical Corps has developed a holistic approach to
sustainable nutrition. This program will build the capacity of local health workers, increase good
household health and hygiene behaviors, and improve nutritional knowledge and eating habits,”
said Miel Hendrickson, International Medical Corps Regional Coordinator for Great Lakes/West
Africa. “Implementing a program based on all of these factors will help these vulnerable families
stay healthy long after the project has ended.”

Amid a brutal civil war in Sierra Leone, International Medical Corps arrived in 1999 to deliver
lifesaving emergency medical services - and remained as a key player after the war ended to
help rehabilitate the health care system. The organization’s services in the country have
included primary and secondary health care, nutrition, maternal/child care, mental health care,
water/sanitation and training.

Since its inception 25 years ago, International Medical Corps’ mission has been consistent:
relieve the suffering of those impacted by war, natural disaster, and disease, by delivering vital
health care services that focus on training. This approach of helping people help themselves is
critical to returning devastated populations to self-reliance. For more information visit:
www.InternationalMedicalCorps.org
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