AKSYON Kominotè Nan Sante Pou Ogmante Nitrisyon: Final Report
Summary — The AKSYON project, funded by USAID and implemented by Fonkoze, aimed to decrease malnutrition in rural Haiti. The five-year program focused on children under five and pregnant women, providing screening, treatment, and education on nutrition, hygiene, and food security. The project worked through Fonkoze's existing microfinance network and community health entrepreneurs.
Key Findings
- Stunting rate decreased by more than 50% in targeted areas.
- Acute malnutrition increased in areas without CHEs, suggesting project resilience.
- 95% cure rate for children treated for malnutrition, exceeding SPHERE standards.
- Program cost USD 114.75 per treated malnourished child and USD 221.32 per avoided DALY.
- Girls consistently had higher rates of malnutrition than boys.
Full Description
The AKSYON project was a five-year USAID-funded initiative implemented by Fonkoze to combat malnutrition in rural Haiti. The project targeted women and children under five, focusing on screening, treatment, and prevention through education and improved access to health products and services. AKSYON leveraged Fonkoze's extensive microfinance network and established a social franchising initiative called Boutik Sante, training community health entrepreneurs (CHEs) to provide basic health screenings, education, and sell health products. The project aimed to reach full scale by 2021, serving over two million Haitians and achieving sustainability through market-driven operations. Despite challenges such as natural disasters, political instability, and the COVID-19 pandemic, AKSYON expanded its reach to cover most of Haiti's communes, providing essential services and contributing to improved nutritional outcomes.