Question

An NGO working in a resettlement area wants to combat public nutrition problem by providing a healthy snack to children living there. (i) Anticipate which strategy will it use to meet the nutritional needs of these children.
(ii) Provide any two advantages and any one disadvantage of using this strategy.

Hint:

Food supplementation programs are commonly used to improve the nutritional status of vulnerable groups such as children and pregnant women.

Answer 1

Step 1: Understanding the Concept: Public nutrition interventions use specific strategies based on the immediacy of the problem and the resources available.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation: The scenario states the NGO is "providing a healthy snack" directly to the children. This indicates an immediate, direct intervention to fill the gap between what the children normally eat and what they actually need.
This specific approach of providing extra food to targeted vulnerable groups is known as the Supplementary Feeding Strategy. It is designed to rapidly improve nutritional status by supplementing their regular diet.
Step 3: Final Answer: The strategy being used is Supplementary Feeding.

(b) Step 1: Understanding the Concept: Every nutritional intervention has pros and cons regarding its effectiveness, cost, and sustainability.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Advantages of Supplementary Feeding:
1. Immediate Nutritional Relief: It yields fast results. Malnourished children receive immediate calories and nutrients, preventing acute health deterioration.
2. Highly Targeted: The intervention can be strictly focused on the most vulnerable demographics (e.g., young children in a specific resettlement area), ensuring resources are utilized exactly where needed most.
Disadvantage:
1. Lack of Long-term Sustainability: It is a very expensive strategy that requires continuous funding, complex logistics for daily distribution, and manpower. Once the NGO leaves or funding stops, the nutritional problem will likely return if the root causes (poverty, lack of dietary diversity) aren't addressed.
Step 3: Final Answer: It offers fast, targeted relief but is financially and logistically difficult to maintain long-term.