Malnutrition, especially in the first two years of a child’s life, can cause lasting damage to brain development, leading to impaired cognitive function, developmental delays and behavioral problems. Malnutrition also compromises the immune system, making children more susceptible to illnesses and increasing the risk of childhood mortality.
The Survival program helps to reduce malnutrition by providing a range of nutritional, medical and educational support to mothers and their babies from the prenatal period through the first year of life. The program ensures that infants survive and thrive, helping them reach important developmental milestones and avoiding the long-term, often irreversible, damage caused by chronic hunger and undernourishment. Continue reading to learn about some of the ways the Survival program supports families.