Implementing an Integrated Nutrition Programme - Health Systems ...

1.9 Parasite control
There are no programmes for parasite control in the district. Treatment for worms is
available at all PHC clinics, but is not administered on a routine basis.
2 Community-based nutrition programmes or projects
Few non-governmental or Community-based organisations are active in the district. As a
result government departments have been encouraged to play a direct role in communitybased
projects. This situation is not ideal as nutrition workers do not necessarily have the
time nor skills to act as development officers. In addition, projects have been poorly coordinated
between the various departments. For instance there has been no contact between
the Department of Agriculture, which is involved in supporting small-scale farming in
Riemvasmaak (part of the Kakamas sub-district) and the Department of Health, which has
been supporting the establishment of a community garden in the town itself.
It is hoped that consolidation of all community-based projects under the Alleviation of
Poverty Fund will lead to better co-ordination. The Fund falls under the Department of
Welfare (which is now a separate department). In the future, the Nutrition Programme views
its role as providing nutritional input to projects rather than being responsible for initiating
community-based projects. The projects which will be funded during the 1999/2000
financial year in the district are shown in Appendix E.
The Nutrition Programme has however been directly involved in two community-based
nutrition programmes over the past few years. It is encouraging to note that both projects
have now been taken up by community members and that the nutrition staff are able to
downscale their involvement in the projects.
2.1 Kakamas community vegetable garden
History
The project began late in 1996 when the SANTA branch in Kakamas approached the
provincial Department of Welfare with a request for assistance in establishing a community
garden for TB patients in Kakamas. As a food production project it was referred to
Nutrition sub-directorate of the Department of Health which agreed to fund the project.
In1997, R39 000 was allocated to the project which was seen as part of an overall strategy
to reduce the TB incidence in Kakamas.
Organisational Structure
The Project committee is responsible for running the project including control of finances.
The committee consists of a project leader, a treasurer and a secretary. The sister-in-charge
of the local clinic, the nutrition advisor and the local social worker are also members.
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