Asante's Empowering Journey with the Nurturing Care Group
Asante Habtamu is a mother of two who resides in a village in Habro district in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. When Asante was four months pregnant with her second child, she embarked on a remarkable journey with Strengthen PSNP Institutions and Resilience (SPIR) II’s Nurturing Care Group (NCG) programme model. Now, fifteen months on, Asante reflects on the profound impact that the programme has made in her family's life.
The Nurturing Care Group (NCG) is a platform that promotes health and nutrition using evidence-based, integrated behaviour change messages and activities, targeting pregnant women and mothers of children aged less than two years old.
SPIR II adapted the model to address issues around infant and young child feeding (IYCF), and early child development, as well as to improve postnatal and antenatal care practices. NCGs are usually comprised of 10-15 women from neighbouring households.
Fariza, a Community Health Facilitator for SPIR II, introduced Asante to the NCG discussions. Asante happily accepted the opportunity to participate. Despite having chosen a home birth for her first child, Asante's newfound knowledge gained in the NCG prompted her to choose the health facility to deliver for her second birth.
Moreover, before engaging in the NCG, Asante had limited awareness of the benefits of eating vegetables when pregnant. With the insights gained from the NCG sessions, she then began prioritising proper nutrition for herself and her unborn child. The NCG discussions also encouraged her to save money for delivery expenses and to go to the health centre early in labour to ensure a safe delivery, marking a significant shift in her maternal care practices.
After learning its importance for her baby's health and for stimulating lactation, Asante gave birth in the health centre and initiated breastfeeding within the critical first hour.
Reflecting on past misconceptions, Asante acknowledges, “My family and I used to give water, sugar, and butter to newborns, unaware of the risks involved. However, through the guidance provided through NCG discussions, I have understood the importance of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months.” Before introducing a carefully balanced supplementary diet, Asante exclusively breastfed her second child for six months, which ensured her child's healthy growth and development.
Prior to the NCG sessions, Asante's household suffered from poor hygiene practices that caused illness. Owing to the impacts of lessons she learnt from the sessions, she prioritises cleanliness and creates a hygienic environment, including the construction of a toilet in her home. As a result, Walid, Asante's child, is enjoying playing in a clean and safe environment that fosters his cognitive development and well-being.
What distinguishes the NCG discussions for Asante is its inclusive approach to learning, catering to various learning styles and literacy levels within the community. Asante remains committed to her ongoing learning journey and is eager to share her knowledge with fellow mothers, empowering them to make informed decisions for the health and well-being of their families. Despite the problems she faces, such as the financial costs of maintaining a balanced diet and the lack of childcare support while her husband is gone for work, Asante and her family are actively navigating these obstacles with tenacity and pertinence.
Asante carries with her a wealth of knowledge that has transformed her approach to motherhood for her two children. “I have become a better mother through the knowledge I gained from the NCG discussions. My aim for the future is to apply it so my children receive nutritious food and education, for a fulfilled life,” she concludes.
By Emnet Dereje, Communications Specialist (SPIR II), World Vision Ethiopia
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About SPIR II
Strengthen Productive Safety Net Programme (PSNP) Institutions and Resilience (SPIR) II is a five-year Resilience Food Security Activity (RFSA) implemented by a consortium of partners led by World Vision that includes CARE, ORDA, and learning partner IFPRI. It is powered by funding from the USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), which focuses on enhancing livelihoods and resilience to shocks and improving food security and nutrition for rural households in Ethiopia’s Amhara, Oromia, and Tigray regions through interventions aligned with the government’s Productive Safety Net Programme (PSNP).
Acknowledgement
This publication was produced in collaboration with World Vision under the SPIR II Programme, Cooperative Agreement Number 720BHA21CA00036, funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development.
Disclaimer
This media product is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the responsibility of World Vision and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.