Officials discuss ongoing nutrition project in two provinces
Officials from the Council for Agricultural and Rural Development met with German NGO officials on Wednesday to discuss ongoing nutrition projects in two provinces.
The project called Multisectoral Food and Nutritional Security Project (MUSEFO) focuses on the fight against malnutrition.
This is a grant from the German government through the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), which has signed an implementation agreement with the Cambodian government.
The project was carried out to combat malnutrition and improve the food security and nutritional status of poor and vulnerable people, especially children and women of reproductive age living in 180 targeted villages in Kampot and Kampong Thom provinces.
Sok Silo, Deputy Secretary General of CARD, said the MUSEFO project has helped the Council implement action plans to improve food security in the country.
“In Kampong Thom Province, this project has improved food availability and access to nutritious foods by increasing diversified agricultural production and improving nutrition services for pregnant women and children under 2,” did he declare.
“It is also improving the national nutrition program and supporting the provincial health centers of Kampot and Kampong Thom in setting up a nutrition counseling mechanism,” he said.
Sanne Sigh, adviser to GIZ MUSEFO, said the project has supported the government through nationwide policies, guidelines and standards. MUSEFO mainly targeted 90 villages in Kampot province and another 90 in Kampong Thom province.
“Our main objective is to tackle the problems of malnutrition by focusing on improving the dietary diversity of women of reproductive age and pregnant and lactating women,” she said.
She added that it also improves the minimum acceptable diet for children 6-23 months and exclusive breastfeeding for children 0-6 months.
“That’s the main outcome of the project, and then we also have more nutrition-sensitive activities,” she said, adding that it was implemented from March 2015 to March 2026.
Chhun Ngech Lang from Kampot province, mother of a five-month-old baby, said breastfeeding is very important despite being busy at work.
“I am breastfeeding my five month old son. Even if I go to work, I can still breastfeed my child,” she said, noting that the project has helped her not use formula for her child.