Ongoing Nutrition Programmes

Output

number of health facilities where nutrition programmes are implemented

This indicator measures the number of health facilities where the nutrition programme(s) supported by the project are functional during the reporting period. Functionality should be assessed against predefined criteria covering trained personnel, adequate equipment, adequate supplies and the capacity to provide case management in line with current national protocols. The indicator does not measure service utilisation, treatment coverage or overall quality of care.

Determine the indicator's value by using the following methodology:

 

1) Define the reporting period. Clearly establish the period for which the indicator is being measured.

 

2) List the health facilities supported by the project to implement nutrition programmes. This could include hospitals, health centres, health posts, and/or health clinics (static and mobile), depending on the structure of the health system in the area of operation.

3) Define what constitutes ‘nutrition programme implementation’ at the health facility level and decide on how to score the relevant criteria. This can build on checklists that are often included in National Protocols. The criteria should include:

• The presence of trained personnel: Facility staff have participated in specific training on the nutrition programmes (e.g. Community / Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition – CMAM/IMAM in line with National Nutrition Guidance and Protocols)

• Adequate equipment: The facility has the necessary equipment to deliver the nutrition programmes (e.g. scales, height boards, MUAC tapes)

• Adequate supplies: The facility has a consistent and sufficient supply of essential commodities (e.g. RUTFs/RUSFs)

• Case management: The facility provides case management for acute malnutrition in line with National Protocols and, in humanitarian contexts, relevant Sphere standards. The absence of eligible cases during the reporting period should not, by itself, mean that the programme is considered non-functional.

 

4) Assess how many supported health facilities meet the criteria by using the project team’s existing knowledge and official records (e.g. staff attendance lists, log reports of RUTF / medical supplies). If any information is missing, contact and/or visit the given health facility.

 

5) The value of the indicator equals the number of health facilities where nutrition programmes are implemented according to the defined criteria.

This data can be disaggregated by health facility type, and, if relevant and feasible, also by geographic area and nutrition programme type.

1) Count only facilities where the supported nutrition programme(s) are functional during the reporting period. Do not interpret this indicator as measuring sustainability: it shows functionality during the reporting period and does not establish whether services will continue after project support ends.

 

2) Maintain clear records of the assessment process for each health facility, including the evidence used to determine if it meets the criteria for "nutrition programme implementation."

 

3) Ensure each distinct health facility is counted only once - even if it implements multiple types of nutrition programmes. For mobile services, define the unit being counted before reporting, for example one registered mobile clinic or team rather than every location it visits, and use a unique identifier to prevent double-counting. If results are also disaggregated by programme type, a facility may appear in more than one programme-type subgroup; these subgroup counts should therefore not be summed to reproduce the overall total.

Also consider using the following indicators:

• Treatment of Undernutrition (measures actual admissions to acute malnutrition treatment, complementing facility functionality with service use)

• Coverage of Acute Malnutrition Treatment Services (measures whether children needing treatment are actually reached by functioning services)

• Recovery (Cure) Rate (adds a treatment outcome measure rather than assuming that facility functionality means effective care)