From 10 to 13 September 2019, a survey of the health services' functioning processes, needs and response took place, in the Montepuez district, in order to reduce and prevent malnutrition. This evaluation involved the participation of several district services (SDSMAS, SDPI, SDAE, SDEJT), Health Committees and caregiving mothers from four randomly chosen villages. The results of this diagnosis are now made known by medicusmundi and reveal, as the main aspects contributing to the high rates of malnutrition in Montepuez, the following: low access to food, shortage of funds to acquire them, poor knowledge about nutrition and consumption of inappropriate water.
In December of last year, Montepuez hosted an important meeting of the Multisectorial Group in order to define the joint Action Plan to improve the response of its Programs to Combat Malnutrition. The Group, made up of the District Health Services (SDSMAS), Planning and Infrastructure (SDPI), Economic Activities (SDAE) and Education, Youth and Technology (SDEJT), had previously participated, in September of the same year, in a diagnostic study led by medicusmundi to assess the problems and needs associated with malnutrition. The Plan that is now made known prioritizes the training and qualification of teams and the implementation of actions such as the development of community education materials, the promotion of debates, campaigns and culinary demonstrations, the opening of fish tanks, among others. It is also worth mentioning the creation of a Technical Group to ensure better supervision and coordination of all activities.