Nutrition In Ayeyawady: Pregnant Mothers Will Get 10000 K Daily For 1000 Days

LIFT and Save the Children implemented MCCT pilot programme in Rakhine in 2014 that made  exclusive breastfeeding amongst mothers in the intervention group doubled and stunting rates decreased by five per cent. So, the INGO expands its project in Ayeyawady Region. 

The Livelihoods and Food Security Trust Fund (LIFT) and Save the Children initiated a maternal and child cash transfer (MCCT) programme for mothers in Labutta Township, Ayeyarwady Region.  

Based on the result from the pilot project which was implemented in Rakhine in 2014, the development partners decided to implement the programme here in Ayeyarwady Region where the poverty rate and stunting rate are very high. 

LIFT Fund Board Member, UK’s Department for International Development, Joanne Raisin: “..The programme is just about delivering cash transfer and a big part of the programme is providing nutrition education and mothers to mothers support group for exclusive breast feeding for example so bringing that knowledge about nutrition about with the ability to buy more nutritious foods or seek out health services when the child is sick. It's the combination of those things we expect to have an impact on stunting not just the cash transfer only.”

The programme provides mothers with cash transfers to improve diets and to buy nutritious food and access health services over the course of the first thousand days of a child’s life.

Pregnant mother, Kanyin Kone Village, Yadanar Htwe: I bought the nutritious foods and applied to access the health care service with the cash. I've come to know about the importance of a varied and nutritious foods. I think, this programme is very helpful not only for all mothers but also for all children to get the enough nutrition. 

According to the observation, 35% of the populations from delta region are facing with stunting. Ministry of Health and Sports is a partner for the programme and they also have a plan to reduce the stunting rate in the country.

Programme Coordinator, Delta Region (LIFT), Nay Tun: We will carry out the program for 10,000 mothers in 202 villages from Labutta Township through the rural health center. We will provide 10,000 kyats every month starting from conception until the child's second birthday. We also conduct the behavior changes training to mothers. 

Director, Dept. of Public Health (Nutrition), Dr. May Khin Than: Our National Nutrition Center has been implementing the nutrition programme since 1954 but the rate of stunting is still increasing so, we are gearing up the nutrition programme across the country in collaboration with the international organizations like the Bright SUN Maternal Cash Transfer Programme.

In addition to cash assistance, LIFT's 1000-day program include educating pregnant mothers to have better nourishment during pregnancy, to have good hygiene practices, exclusive breast feeding when the baby is born and when to start feeding child supplementary nourished food.

Head, UK’s Department for International Development, Gavin: “This is a challenge, Myanmar can win. If those third of children who are currently malnourish become well nourish then they will contribute their foods, energy and creativity to the family, community and to the country so they will benefit it people and the whole country will benefit..”

Currently, LIFT is implementing the programme with 14.5 million US dollars by providing over 54,000 mothers and children.