Toward zero malnutrition in Bolivia

In Bolivia, one out of every three children suffers from malnutrition―the food they eat does not provide enough essential nutrients.

The Riberalta region, in Beni Department, is no exception. Even though most families in this predominantly indigenous region have migrated to Riberalta to gain access to better sources of income, they live in poverty and lack knowledge about nutrition.

"Malnutrition is the main problem faced by children under five years of age, and in particular for those under two," says Yolanda Cortez, head nurse of the San Andrés Health Centre in Riberalta. "Babies have good weight until the age of six months, while breastfeeding, but when they begin to eat solid food the problem of low weight and height starts."

Complete family nutrition services

Yolanda Cortez (left) heads the local nutrition unit of the Nurses Health Centre of San Andres in Riberalta. She and a team of trained community health workers pay regular visits to poor families to evaluate their nutritional habits and provide information on how to improve the children's diet.

Yolanda Cortez manages one of the local integrated nutrition units (UNIs) established as part of the Zero Malnutrition program, undertaken by the Bolivian Ministry of Health and Sports, and supported by CIDA. This program aims to reduce malnutrition through education on nutrition―necessary nutrients, appropriate food preparation and sanitation―and the distribution of food supplements.

UNIs are teams of health professionals, like Ms. Cortez's team, that educate families about nutrition, monitor the health of children and provide treatment if necessary. UNI employees are trained in healthy dietary habits, breastfeeding, proper use of food supplements, and detection and treatment of malnutrition.

Dirce Molina's daughter, Angelina, was undernourished until Yolanda's team gave Dirce the education and tools needed to improve her child's diet.

"Each month when children come to the Centre, they are examined. When a case of malnutrition is identified, the child receives appropriate treatment. The mother is also invited to attend the Centre's weekly discussions about nutrition, including how to prepare nutritious foods, use local ingredients and keep food safe," Ms. Cortez adds.

Several topics are raised in these discussions, which involve mothers and nurses.

"Today, we will talk about complementary feeding for babies. We will discuss the necessary amounts of puréed food, as well as the use of Nutri-Bebé, an infant cereal fortified with vitamins and minerals. We will encourage mothers to use foods available in our region, such as potatoes, bananas, taro and pumpkin. I also suggest that an excellent local food supplement, Chispitas, which is an iron and vitamin supplement produced in Bolivia and provided by the Centre, be added to snacks," Ms. Cortez explains.

"The community health workers who visit families are my right arm in eradicating malnutrition," she says. "During home visits, they monitor a child's growth and development, determine the type of food available to the family and provide advice and support."

Improving a family's nutrition status is a long-term process, which must include encouraging the use of locally available foods, and equitable distribution among the members of a community, both women and men.

This project is part of CIDA's effort to help reach two of the eight Millennium Development Goals: eradicate extreme poverty and hunger (MDG 1) and reduce child mortality (MDG 4).

For more information, consult the Support to Zero Malnutrition Program.