The MOST Program in Uganda
MOST has identified Uganda as a 'results' country for vitamin A. These results will be achieved within the broader context of health and nutrition programming under development at this time within the USAID mission. Highest priority will be afforded to achieving 80% coverage with vitamin A capsules in children under five years. Fortification of appropriate foods, dietary diversification and reducing anaemia in pregnant women and children are recognized as important components of the comprehensive and sustainable Micro-nutrient program MOST will establish. The MOST program will be integrated fully into the broader USAID mission health program.

The MOST Project has worked very closely with Government Ministries, the Private sector and other stakeholders to establish Micro-nutrient deficiency control Projects in Uganda.

Achievements of the project
Uganda through the Ministry of Health has adopted a bi-annual Vitamin A capsule supplementation strategy for all children aged between five and six years. This will be held in May and November every year.
Uganda is developing a proposal to benefit from funds offered by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) for food fortification. The project will pilot fortification of oil and maize flour with essential Micro-nutrients.
MOST will assist the Ministry of Health to implement effective strategies to address anaemia in women and children through advocacy and operational research after the dissemination of the anaemia policy.
In collaboration with the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) and the International Potato Centre (CIP), MOST has established a project to promote the orange-fleshed sweet potato in Luwero district.

MOST Project areas of focus

• 
  Policy articulation and enhancement for MoH vitamin A program
  - Launching of the VACS supplementation schedule
  - Development of planning and implementation guidelines
  - Strengthening stakeholder partnership and collaboration
  - Defining roles and boundaries for implementation
  

  Advocacy and awareness creation
  - Development of education and communication materials for health workers
  - Advocacy brochures for policy makers
  - Radio and TV spots
  - TV and radio talk shows
  - Newspaper articles
  - Product advertisements - emphasizing the benefits and role of vitamin A in health

Implementation process
- Participatory planning and consensus building on methods and process
- Implementation trial in one/two districts
- Revisit implementation plan and policy
- Endorsement of the new "policy" for VACS, throughout the country
- Disseminate policy, with guidelines. Vitamin A distribution nationwide - in all 56 districts

Food fortification
- No existing program to build upon
- Inventory of food Industries
- Workshop for the food industries
- Sensitize on magnitude of malnutrition in Uganda, and the role industries could play to address it
- Consultancy to explore feasibly of food fortification
- Launching of the task force
- Development of the GAIN proposal

Dietary diversification

• Anaemia prevention
  Reducing anaemia through improved ante-natal care:Formative assessment

• Identified the women's willingness to take supplements
  - Fear of having 'little blood'
  - Fear of getting blood transfusion
• Lack of harmonization of what health workers do
  - Dosage/messages
• Late attendance
  - after 6 months
• Lack of supplies

MOST
International Science & Technology Institute, Inc.
1820 N. Fort Myer Drive
Suite 600
Arlington, VA 22209
USA
Phone: (703) 807-0236
E-mail: most@istiinc.com
Website address: www.mostproject.org

Uganda Contact:
Mrs. Louise Sserunjogi,
MOST Project Coordinator,
Child Health and Development Center
Makerere University
P.O. Box 6717
Kampala.
Phone: 256-41-530325/541684
Fax: 256-41-531677
E-mail: mostuganda@chdc-muk.com
E-mail: louise@chdc-muk.com

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