Malnutrition is highly prevalent in Chin State, with stunting affecting 40.3% of children under five years, as against the national average of 29%.[i] Dietary diversity is especially poor among children under 2 years and pregnant and lactating women (PLW). Only 25.4% of babies 0-5 months are exclusively breastfed in Chin State[ii] and an alarming number of children and PLWs suffer from deficiencies of important micronutrients and vitamins such as A, B, iron, and iodine.[iii] These problems are often a combination of low availability and access to diverse, nutritious foods and a lack of knowledge and practices on how to effectively utilize the available food resources. In addition, the critical first 1,000 days from conception to 2 years is a period of specific vulnerability in Chin as elsewhere, due to detrimental Maternal Infant and Young Child Feeding (MIYCF) practices. The mean exclusive breastfeeding is 3.5 months, with mothers having to return to work in the fields as one of the prevailing reasons.

Department of Social Welfare implemented Maternal and Child Cash Transfer programme (MCCT), under Ministry of Social Welfare Relief and Resettlement, in Chin State from June 2017 to improve nutritional outcomes for all mothers and children during the first critical 1,000 day of life (from conception to 24 months of age) along with complementary awareness sessions on nutrition, health and hygiene.

Ar Yone Oo Social Development Association implements all its activities in food and nutrition security focusing on both nutrition sensitive and nutrition specific intervention. From 2018, Ar Yone Oo Social Development Association implements "Prevention of Stunting Project in Tonzang Township in partnership with WFP through distribution of high energy food package for Pregnant, Lactating Women and under 2-year boys and girls along with complementary nutrition awareness sessions in the targeted villages. In collaboration with Township Health Department, Ar Yone Oo Social Development Association implemented cooking demonstration sessions, regular monitoring on Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC), nutrition awareness sessions and celebration of nutrition promotion day.








Project Summary 2018-2019
No. Name of Project Activity Name Project Duration # of villages Food Mt. Direct Beneficiary Indirect Beneficiary
From To WSB+ WSB++ Under 2 Boys Under 2 Girls PLW HHs M F T
1 Prevention of Stunting Nutrition Food Distribution April, 2018 September, 2018 38 6.912 20.088 565 534 387 1,486 572 928 1,500
2 Prevention of Stunting Nutrition Food Distribution March, 2019 December, 2019 30 13.11 18.999 302 297 427 1,044 347 717 1,064
  Total   20.022 39.087 867 831 814 2,530 919 1,645 2,564

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[i] Ministry of Health and Sports (MoHS) and ICF. 2017. Myanmar Demographic and Health Survey 2015-16. Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, and Rockville, Maryland USA: MoHS and ICF, p.44.

[ii] Ministry of Health and Sports 2011. Myanmar Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2009-2010 Final Report. Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar: MNPED and Ministry of Health.

[iii] Myanmar Micronutrient and Food Consumption Survey MMFCS (2017-2018), Interim report.