Simplified family Mid Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) integrated nutrition program in Taiz

WHAT HUMANITARIAN NEED IS BEING ADDRESSED?

Yemen’s civil war was preceded by several decades of weak economic performance. Conflict-induced food insecurity continues to drive malnutrition. Taiz crosses the frontline, and despite a temporary truce in April 2022, high transportation costs and checkpoint fees, combined with an entrenched war economy, have driven up food costs and hindered travel for medical care. This has hindered access to healthcare services for children under 5 with severe acute malnutrition and malnourished pregnant and lactating women (PLW). Adding to this, the high number of people that were displaced due to the conflict put additional stress on the healthcare system.

WHAT IS THE INNOVATIVE SOLUTION AND HOW WILL IT IMPROVE EXISTING HUMANITARIAN PRACTICE?

MUAC is considered a strong indicator for nutrition-related mortality in children. It is easily used by caregivers with lower literacy and is low-cost. This innovation will target communities located further away from health facilities, allowing them to monitor nutrition status at home by testing the uniMUAC bracelet for use by caregivers. In addition, the project aims to reduce demand for complex treatment by improving early detection, supporting existing healthcare facilities to better cope with the needs of the community.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES

Mercy Corps will train community health volunteers (CHVs) to support and train the caregivers/ PLWs at the community level to measure the MUAC for their children, which will allow early detection of malnutrition and early referral of malnourished cases to get the treatment they need, reducing the probability of having malnutrition related complications.

An additional goal will be to conduct a field comparison between the uniMUAC and UNICEF bracelets, the results of which will be shared with the wider aid community.