Government-funded programmes and services for vulnerable - Unicef

Department of Health
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Nutrition
Supplementation
Programme xi
The objective of the NSP
is to identify and treat
undernourished adults
and children at primary
healthcare level.
Targeted vulnerable
beneficiaries are entitled
to food supplements,
including fortified maize
meal and a high energy
drink.
Children under the age
of five that experience
growth faltering get
formula milk, Diva rice
cereal, energy drinks and
porridge.
Nutritional
supplementation for
HIV+ children
This is prioritised in
terms of governing
policies and guidelines. xii
The policies and
guidelines on
nutritional support and
supplementation for
children aim to ensure
that children with
asymptomatic HIV
infection enjoy a 10
per cent increase in
energy consumption,
those with symptomatic
infection receive the
30 per cent additional
energy recommended
by the WHO, and that
symptomatic children
with severe malnutrition
receive 100 per cent
extra energy. xiii
Targeted beneficiaries
Children under the
age of five (not just
those that are HIV+)
that experience growth
faltering. Growth
faltering is when
the child’s growth
curve drops over two
consecutive months on
their growth monitoring
Road to Health Card.
Exit criteria:
gained adequate
weight to attain a
growth curve in
relation to his or her
normal growth and
maintains this for three
months;
period of 12 months to
attain a normal growth
curve and there is no
underlying disease
present;
i.e. fails to attend clinic
for a period of three
consecutive months.
HIV+ children under the
age of 14 receiving ARVs
Nutritionally at risk
pregnant women who
exhibit insufficient
growth according to the
curve on the symphysisfundus
graph on the
antenatal chart
Primary healthcare
facilities, including
public clinics and
community health
centres
Community-based
healthcare workers
employed by the state
and NGOs may give
nutritional advice and
support to caregivers
that are HIV+ and/
or whose children
are HIV+, including
information on the
benefits of exclusive
breastfeeding and
information on mixed
infant feeding and
safe food preparation
practices in the case
of formula feeding.
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