NUTRTIONAL HEALTH FARMING OF MORINGA.
Moringa oleifera is recognized in tropical and subtropical region of the world as the tree of life because of its myriad medicinal and nutritional properties known to be used as alternative to medicine. Every part of Moringa plant can be used for medicine purpose such as inhibiting fibrosis, having antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, lowering blood glucose levels and potentially reducing the occurrence of tumors additionally in many parts of Africa and Asia. People have used Moringa plant as dietary supplements because of its high mineral and vitamin contents not only for nursing mothers, but also for preventing malnutrition, including deficiencies of micronutrients such as vitamin A and C zinc, iron and calcium. A nutritious Moringa plant has low maintenance, rapid growth and drought resistance that make it a significant impact in the community.
-Our project targets women; ideally those with children, pregnant and lactating women because mothers tend to be nutritional gatekeepers of households because they make decisions related to food purchasing and preparation.
PROJECT LOCATION; KYELENI WARD.
Kyeleni ward is in Machakos county with a population of 17,738 people according to the latest census. In machakos county, it has been no enough rain for seasons now thus nutritional food and water is the main problem. As a member of Kyeleni ward, SEEDAfrica knows that many lactating Women and infants experience low nutritional food balance. A conversation with medical personnel, community groups and community health volunteer CHVs helped on to paint a picture of the need for accessible nutritional diet program. An interview with physician working out at Kyeleni dispensary described how they select the most children affected with micronutrients and give their mothers advice on balance diet feeding. She realized that nutritional food is managed by a few well-up families who is capable to buy them. the USAID helps by offering few nutritional bars RUFT to lactating mothers, infants affected by malnutrition and to people affected by HIV and Aids, saying this cannot reach the need of large number turning up and sustainability. community health volunteer CHVs working out the community described the same problem. SEEDAfrica also conducted two formal focus group discussions on how to prevent stunting and improve nutritional status among women and children.
According to our survey and need assessment, we need consumption and sustainability of Moringa nutritional plants in our community. SEEDAfrica found that 80% of Kyeleni ward children under age of 18 years are food insecure. A survey through women groups conversation reveals that 30% of low-income feeding families with school-aged children are not aware of simple preparing balance diet. SEEDAfrica proposes to offer nutritional cooking demonstrations within Kyeleni ward using moringa products.
Goals-our goal is to prevent stunting and improve nutritional status among women and children by increasing and sustaining production and consumption of Moringa in its best form for maximum attainment of its value.
Objectives
the objective of our project is to 1. increase knowledge and awareness of nutrition and balanced diet. 2. Increase knowledge and awareness of the moringa nutritional benefits, its importance in preventing malnutrition. 3.promotion of moringa dishes and its products among women and children.
Targeted Audience.1. we are targeting pregnant women and lactating mothers. 2.mothers with children under two years old< they are primary care givers responsible for preparing family meals and feeding children.
Nutrition awareness– 1. perception of risk particularly among young children and lactating women is low. 2.women in the community have limited awareness about malnutrition.3. knowledge about the importance of diversified for children growth and health is minimal
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factors that influence consumption of diversified diet–
i. are living below a poverty line. ii. lack of awareness of value of nutrition. iii. lack of skills to diversity food preparation methods. iv. Very limited variety of food culture mainly focused on maize and beans.
Health communication contexts-health and nutrition education will use demonstration plots, mobile kitchen and recipe demonstration.
Training and capacity building – to ensure proper implementation of the project train of trainers should focus on increasing conceptual knowledge of moringa products and its nutritional value.
Roles and responsibilities-seed Africa volunteers will use community influence to provide their strong health promotion skills in the areas of demonstration.
Cooking demonstrations –seed Africa train of trainers TOTs will coordinate and implement the activities at the household levels to mobilized women groups. Cooking sessions will be led by SEED Africa train of trainers TOTs on women groups using mobile kitchens. participants will learn how to prepare and dry moringa leafs, seeds, flowers, and cook moringa pods. We will have the opportunity to explore different recipes, processing methods and infant feeding practices.
Ecological farming promotion of moringa –the promotion of moringa seedlings will enhance community participation provide easy access to the moringa seeds,leaves,flowers and pods that provide self-sustaining options for community.
Monitoring and evaluation
| Community objectives |
Target audience |
Key message |
Strategy |
Communication channel |
Indication |
Timeline
Start End
|
| Increase knowledge and awareness of nutrition and balance diet |
Lactating mothers/pregnant women and caregivers women with children under the age of 2 years of age |
Lack of proper nutrition deficiency affects children health, development growth,
Intelligence and his/her ability |
Community mobilization |
Community presentations/groups |
Numbers of participants reached |
|
| Increase knowledge and awareness of the nutritional benefits of Moringa products and its importance in preventing malnutrition among women and children |
Husbands/ grant parents and family members/community leaders/health providers |
The best way to gain the nutrients out of Moringa products is in both fresh and dried form |
Community outreach |
|
Number of cooking session organized |
|
| |
|
Moringa products is the cheapest and easiest means of meeting the families nutritional needs |
Cooking demonstration session |
|
Number of participants receiving seedlings |
|
| |
|
Moringa products has nutrients to eliminate malnutrition from our community |
|
|
|
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