Nutrition Promotion Campaign
Mid Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) Tape Assessment Report
Submitted by: Advocate, Jagadish Ram Lohani
Position: Managing Director/Nutrition Activist
Company Name: Eakikrit Posan Prabardhak Kendra Nepal Pvt. Ltd
Introduction
Eakikrit Posan Prabardhak Kendra Nepal Pvt. Ltd is a youth-led organization composed of skilled professionals dedicated to improving nutritional outcomes across Nepal’s most underserved and geographically isolated districts—primarily in the Karnali and Sudurpaschim Provinces. Our company is committed to the promotion of nutrition, the reduction of malnutrition, and the long-term eradication of undernutrition among remote, marginalized, and Dalit communities.
Driven by our collective expertise and longstanding experience in integrated nutrition strategies, we have implemented multiple community-based nutrition campaigns focused on empowering grassroots health workers and enhancing child health outcomes.
Recent Campaign Overview – Bungal Municipality, Bajhang District
In Ashar 2082 (June/July 2025), the INPC Nepal successfully executed a Nutrition Promotion Campaign in Bungal Municipality, one of the most remote and underserved municipality of Bajhang District, under the Nutrition-Specific Grant Program of the Sudurpaschim Provincial Government.
The campaign was carried out in close coordination with the local government, covering all 11 wards of the municipality. Our key intervention was the orientation and mobilization of all Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs), equipping them with essential knowledge and practical tools for child nutrition assessment using Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) tape.
The campaign specifically targeted children aged 6 to 59 months, measuring their nutritional status to establish a clear picture of malnutrition prevalence across the municipality.
Methodology
The Nutrition Promotion Campaign in Bungal Municipality was designed and implemented using a community-based participatory approach with strong coordination between the local government, health institutions, and Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs). The methodology followed these steps:
- Planning and Coordination
- Consultative meetings were held with Bungal Municipality and the Health Section to finalize the data collection questionnaire and campaign plan.
- Roles and responsibilities of local government, Health Facilities, INPC Nepal, and FCHVs were clearly defined.
- Conducted a ToT on MUAC assessment to the all-Health Facility In-Charge of Bungal Municipality.
- Orientation and Capacity Building
- All FCHVs across 11 wards were oriented and trained on the proper use of MUAC (Mid-Upper Arm Circumference) tape for nutritional screening by Health Facility In-charge, in the presence of representative of Bungal Municipality Health unit and MD of INPC Nepal.
- Training emphasized standardized measurement, accurate record keeping, and referral pathways for malnourished children.
- Data Collection
- Target group: Children aged 6–59 months residing in all wards of Bungal Municipality.
- Each FCHV conducted house-to-house visits in their catchment areas, measuring the MUAC of eligible children.
- Measurements were recorded on standardized reporting formats, noting the nutritional status category (Normal, MAM, SAM).
- Verification and Compilation
- Supervisors (Health Facility In-Charge) representative of health Unit of Bungal Municipality, MD of INPC cross-checked a sample of data for accuracy.
- Collected data from all wards were compiled and verified by health facility In-Charge at the ward level and forwarded to MD of INPC for data entry and analysis.
- Analysis
- Data were entered, consolidated, and analyzed to determine the prevalence of Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM) and Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM).
- While analyzing data, MD of INPC called to concerned FCHVs to be clarity on doubt data.
- Comparison was made with last year’s (2081) records to assess trends and changes in malnutrition status.
Findings
According to last year’s (2081) municipal records, only 23 children were identified as malnourished (combined MAM and SAM cases). However, this year’s assessment has shown a concerning surge in malnutrition, with a total of 92 cases documented out of 2442:
- Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM): 16 children
- Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM): 76 children
This alarming rise can be attributed to multiple systemic challenges:
- Budget cuts from non-governmental agencies affect health and nutrition programming.
- Inadequate budget allocation and lack of program implementation by local governments.
- Limited community-level interventions in recent months.
Concerns and Urgent Need for Intervention
The drastic increase in acute malnutrition cases within a single fiscal year indicates a rapid deterioration in child health and nutrition in Bungal Municipality. If timely and coordinated interventions are not initiated, the situation is at serious risk of escalating into a full-blown nutrition crisis.
Immediate action is essential too:
- Prevent further degradation of child health.
- Support already malnourished children with therapeutic feeding and care.
- Strengthen local capacity for early detection and management of malnutrition.
- Provide needed financial support to the victim’s family.
- Execute some recommended activities such as children referring to the OTCs as soon as possible.
- Managed the RUTF in the OTCs.
- Mobilize trained HWs or Community Nutrition Facilitators for counseling for execution of some SBC interventions.
Call to Action
We earnestly appeal to:
- Government bodies at all levels to increase attention and budget prioritization for child nutrition.
- Non-governmental organizations and international development partners to extend technical and financial support for nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive programs.
- All concerned stakeholders to mobilize resources and collaborate in an integrated approach to combat this emerging nutrition crisis.
This report is shared with deep concern and a collective call for action. Let us work together to protect the health and future of Nepal’s children, especially those in our most remote and vulnerable communities in far western and Karnali province.
Some Pictures (All pictures show SAM/MAM Case of Bungal M ward no.8)
THANK YOU!