World Food Programme Fighting Hunger Worldwide

Since the start of the WFP Mother and Child Health Programme, health centres like this one in Ban Nam Ngeun in the far north-west of Laos, see more than twice as many pregnant women and young mothers than before.

Ms Vinkeo Manixay is six months pregnant with her first child. Each of her visits to the health centre starts with a weight check. The progress is recorded in a chart to monitor the development of her pregnancy.

The doctor or nurse then monitors the unborn baby’s vital signs and growth, and the woman’s health. In Laos, where 15 percent of babies are born with low birth-weight, these checks and the advice given to women are a crucial factor in improving the health and nutrition of their children.

As part of their visit, women learn how to ensure their pregnancy progresses smoothly, and how to eat well so that their baby receives all the nutrition it needs before and after birth. Men are encouraged to accompany their wives and support them during this important time.

WFP supports up to four health checks before delivery, a visit to deliver the baby at the health facility, and two appointments with the newborn child by giving a ration of 10kg of rice for each visit. Many women cite this ration as a strong motivator for their visit as it compensates for the time and cost they spend travelling to the clinic and back.

During pregnancy and breastfeeding, the woman’s nutritional status determines how well her baby develops. WFP therefore also gives women a daily portion of Nutributter, a peanut-based paste enriched with essential nutrients, to complement their diet during this crucial period.

Through participation in the WFP programme, women learn more about the service they can receive at rural health centres. In the long run, this experience will encourage them and their peers to attend health facilities more frequently, even without the rice ration provided by WFP.