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Challenges
As one of the poorest province in Indonesia, East Nusa Tenggara Timur is experiencing long-lasting food insecurity and high rate of acute malnutrition. Enduring drought has caused crop failures leading to an acute food security crisis at household level. As a result, significant reduced food intake occurred, leading to deteriorating nutritional of the people, particularly children under five years of age.
The health and nutrition survey conducted jointly by CARE, Church World Services (CWS) and Helen Keller International (HKI) in late 2007 in Timor island of East Nusa Tenggara province, revealed alarming rates of acute malnutrition among children under five in Kupang, Timur Tengah Selatan, Timur Tengah Utara, and Belu districts. At 14.8%, the prevalence of acute malnutrition in Kupang almost reached the critical threshold (15%).
CARE’s Response
Integrated with the on-going malnutrition rehabilitation operation of CARE in the district, the Outpatient Therapeutic Centers (OTC) project aims to improve the nutritional status of 250 acute malnourished children under five in Kupang district, through home-based treatment with ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) in short-term intervention. This will further contribute to a reduction in the prevalence of acute malnutrition.
The project also provides referral support to stabilize the condition of acutely malnourished children in Kupang District, presenting with severe acute malnutrition (SAM), without appetite and/or having medical complication that prevent optimum recovery in home-based therapeutic feeding to be having appetite and are free from medical complications.
The children will be identified through screening at selected villages from the posyandu monitoring data and also through home visits. Upon referral and admittance to the OTC, children will receive weekly rations of RUTF and clean and safe drinking water, standard medication based on international treatment protocols, inclusive of de-worming medication.
Sector: Emergency Response, Health and Nutrition
Donor: Private-sector fund
Location: Kupang district, East Nusa Tenggara
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