Nutrition Improvement Program in Kiribati
Project Profile
Region: East Asia + Pacific
Country: Kiribati
Areas of Focus: Food Security and Nutrition
Capabilities: Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition (MCHN), Smallholder Agriculture Development,
Situation
An FSP/Counterpart International sponsored health survey in the 1960’s revealed a serious Vitamin A deficiency in Kiribati. In young children, a vitamin A deficiency can lead to visual impairment, respiratory issues and growth retardation.
What We Did
FSP/Counterpart International, in partnership with a local Kiribati’s women’s group, began the Nutrition Improvement Program (NIP) as a way to offer sustainable nutritional solutions that complemented local resources. Vegetable gardens were planted to grow produce rich in vitamin A, such as carrots. The gardens required full community involvement and dedication, due to the volatile climate and sandy soil of the island. The gardens were important not only for their nutritional value but as a way for Kiribati locals to return to a traditional food system after an increasing reliance on imported foods stemming from the colonial era.
The NIP initiative was also supplemented by a joint UNICEF and Kiribati Ministry of Health program that distributed Vitamin A supplements to children.
Impacts
The NIP in Kiribati was one of the longest-running maternal and child health care programs in the Pacific. It initiated a regional focus on nutrition and hygiene, and encouraged similar programs throughout the South Pacific.
