Emergency Food Distribution in Madagascar

The Emergency Food Distribution project continued to deliver critical nutrition and community health interventions aimed at reducing acute malnutrition among children under five. As part of the fifth round of Ready-to-Use Supplementary Food (RUSF) distribution, 1,205 children diagnosed with Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM) received treatment, achieving a strong recovery rate of 96%. In addition, 115 children recently discharged from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) treatment at the health clinic were provided with RUSF support to prevent relapse, strengthening continuity of care for vulnerable children.

Community-based screening activities conducted in September identified 1,093 children with acute malnutrition, including 942 cases of MAM. In total, 25,555 children aged 6–59 months were screened for malnutrition across the intervention areas, demonstrating the project’s extensive outreach and early detection capacity.

Complementary Social Behaviour Change (SBC) activities were implemented to address underlying health and hygiene factors contributing to malnutrition. Three SBC sessions were delivered, focusing on childhood vaccination, antenatal care attendance, and proper handwashing practices. These sessions aimed to improve caregivers’ knowledge and promote preventive health behaviours at the household level.

Positive Deviance (PD) approaches were further reinforced through two rounds of household visits and focus group discussions with participating mothers. These activities strengthened the adoption of locally appropriate caregiving and feeding practices introduced during earlier PD workshops, supporting sustainable behaviour change within the community.

To enhance implementation capacity, three additional Senior Community Liaison Officers were recruited during the period. Capacity-building efforts also included training 22 health clinic staff on the updated national malnutrition protocol, ensuring alignment with national standards of care. In addition, one community awareness campaign marking World Breastfeeding Week was successfully conducted in Ankaramena, promoting optimal infant and young child feeding practices.

Overall, the project continues to demonstrate strong performance in treatment, prevention, and community engagement to address acute malnutrition in vulnerable populations.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all our supporters and partners whose continued commitment and generosity make these life-saving interventions possible.

In the last three months, significant progress was made in addressing child malnutrition and supporting vulnerable households affected by Tropical Storm Jude. A total of 23,208 children between 6–59 months were screened for malnutrition across project sites. Screening identified 1,245 children with moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) and 158 children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM). Of those identified with SAM, three children presenting with medical complications were referred to hospital for specialized treatment, ensuring they received the urgent care required.

In response to food insecurity following crop losses, the project conducted the fifth round of ready-to-use supplementary food (RUSF) distribution. Through this initiative, 1,384 households of children with acute malnutrition received food supplies, directly supporting recovery and reducing vulnerability. These distributions were a key component of the cyclone-response activities, ensuring that affected families were not left without critical nutritional support.

To complement food assistance, the project emphasized preventive and educational approaches. Three Social Behaviour Change (SBC) sessions were delivered, focusing on maternal nutrition and dietary diversity, equipping caregivers with knowledge to improve household nutrition practices. Additionally, a Positive Deviance (PD) survey identified 12 eligible Model Mothers, who will lead a 12-day skill-sharing workshop. These workshops promote locally rooted caregiving practices, ensuring solutions are sustainable and culturally appropriate.

The last Positive Deviance cycle yielded particularly encouraging results: of the 33 children participating, 29 successfully recovered from MAM. This underscores the effectiveness of community-led approaches and the potential for long-term impact when families are empowered with skills and knowledge.

These integrated efforts are not only addressing immediate nutritional needs but also strengthening resilience against future shocks.

Your generous donations make these achievements possible and we are very grateful.