Mercy Corps' Aceh Healthy School Program is addressing the health and nutrition needs of school aged children in two districts in Aceh through an intergrated strategy designed to reduce anemia levels adn improve hygiene.
Initially, the program will reach 10,000 children with plans to scale up doubling that figure over two years. The program aims to reduce anemia levels by providing micronutrient supplementation, supporting initiatives in parasite elimination, promoting basic hygiene and improving nutrition practices.
Anemia Status in Aceh
While great strides have been made in Aceh since the december 2004 tsunami, children's helath status remains disturbing, with indications of chronic under nutrition and high prevalence of anemia.
In october 2007, Mercy corps conducted a preliminary assessment to more clearly understand anmia patterns in Aceh Province with plans to replicate, as appropriate, its long established Sumatra Healthy Schools Program. That Program succesfully reduced anemia rates and worm infestation throughout five provinces of Sumatra.
The results of the Aceh preliminary assessment show alarmingly high anemia and worm infection rates. intestinal worms contrubute to anemia and overll poor nutrition status and are associated with poor sanitary conditions. in Aceh Besar, anemia rates were 68.5% of 4 - 5 years old and in Nagan Raya, 56% of 6 - 7 years old were effected. worm infection rates in Aceh Besar were 32.2% and in Nagan Raya they were 64.2%. these finding reinforce the need for an anemia prevention project through focused interventions addressing the root couses of anemia.
What is anemia and why is it important?
Iron deficiency affecs a sgnificant part, and often a majority of the population in nearly every country in the world. Risk for iron deficiency varies with each stage of the life cycle due to changes in iron stores, level of intake and needs relating to growth or iron loss. for example, before six months iron stores are usually adequate from the perinatal period, however, iron storage levels in children begin to decline during the second year of life due to low iron content in the diet and rapid growth spurts. In areas with a high prevalence of hook worm infestation, school aged children as well as adults can also develop significant iron deficiency.
Iron deficiency is defined as a condition in which there are insufficient iron stores and in which there is compromised supply of iron to tissues. the more severe stages of iron deficiency are associated with anemia which is clinically determined if hemoglobin levels drop to less than 11 g/dL(6 months -<5 years old) or 11.5 g/dL (5 -< 11 years old). However, even mild to moderate forms of iron deficiency which may not clinically be qualified as anemia, tussues still are functionally impaired causing children to be tired, slow motor activity and inhibit a child's ability to learn. moreover, the affects of iron deficiency in childhood, a time of significant growth spurts, can be irreversible leading to leower functioning adults.
Sources : Paula miller, Aceh Healthy Schools Project Manager, Health Messenger
UNICEF Report, September 2005,In october 2007, Mercy corps conducted a preliminary assessment to more clearly understand anmia patterns in Aceh Province with plans to replicate, as appropriate, its long established Sumatra Healthy Schools Program. That Program succesfully reduced anemia rates and worm infestation throughout five provinces of Sumatra.
The results of the Aceh preliminary assessment show alarmingly high anemia and worm infection rates. intestinal worms contrubute to anemia and overll poor nutrition status and are associated with poor sanitary conditions. in Aceh Besar, anemia rates were 68.5% of 4 - 5 years old and in Nagan Raya, 56% of 6 - 7 years old were effected. worm infection rates in Aceh Besar were 32.2% and in Nagan Raya they were 64.2%. these finding reinforce the need for an anemia prevention project through focused interventions addressing the root couses of anemia.
What is anemia and why is it important?
Iron deficiency affecs a sgnificant part, and often a majority of the population in nearly every country in the world. Risk for iron deficiency varies with each stage of the life cycle due to changes in iron stores, level of intake and needs relating to growth or iron loss. for example, before six months iron stores are usually adequate from the perinatal period, however, iron storage levels in children begin to decline during the second year of life due to low iron content in the diet and rapid growth spurts. In areas with a high prevalence of hook worm infestation, school aged children as well as adults can also develop significant iron deficiency.
Iron deficiency is defined as a condition in which there are insufficient iron stores and in which there is compromised supply of iron to tissues. the more severe stages of iron deficiency are associated with anemia which is clinically determined if hemoglobin levels drop to less than 11 g/dL(6 months -<5 years old) or 11.5 g/dL (5 -< 11 years old). However, even mild to moderate forms of iron deficiency which may not clinically be qualified as anemia, tussues still are functionally impaired causing children to be tired, slow motor activity and inhibit a child's ability to learn. moreover, the affects of iron deficiency in childhood, a time of significant growth spurts, can be irreversible leading to leower functioning adults.
Sources : Paula miller, Aceh Healthy Schools Project Manager, Health Messenger
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