What does CMAM mean in COMMUNITY

Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) is an integrated approach to the prevention, identification, management and treatment of malnutrition at community level. It includes collaboration between community members, health and nutrition workers, and government authorities.

CMAM works by training local communities in identifying severe acute malnutrition (SAM) cases in children under the age of five. Once identified, those cases are referred to a supported health facility for screening and diagnosis by a trained health worker. Depending on the case, they may then be referred for treatment at home or at an inpatient therapeutic feeding center using donor-supported ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTF).

CMAM services are provided by healthcare staff such as nutritionists, nurses and other professionals who have been trained in the detection and management of malnourished children. In some cases, community volunteers can also be trained to provide basic medical assistance.

Child malnutrition is usually identified through growth monitoring based on height-for-age measurements (a measure of child's growth over a period of time). Other indicators include mid upper arm circumference (MUAC), weight-for-height measurements (=BMI), as well as a clinical assessment performed by a healthcare provider.

Treatments employed in CMAM programs typically involve two components - nutritional interventions and medical interventions. Nutritional interventions focus on providing adequate energy and essential nutrients needed to restore optimal health status while medical interventions address underlying factors contributing to malnutrition such as infections.

Preventative measures to reduce the risk factors leading to childhood malnutrition include proper handwashing practices, proper sanitation & hygiene measures, exclusive breastfeeding during infancy & introduction of complementary foods at 6 months old, immunization against infectious diseases such as measles & polio and controlling vector borne infections such as malaria.

Early identification and timely intervention are key components that ensure effective treatment outcomes for malnourished children enrolled into a CMAM program. This helps reduce overall mortality rates associated with acute malnutrition while also improving long-term recovery rates among enrolled individuals.

Successful implementations can lead to reduced rates of mortality and morbidity among malnourished children while simultaneously improving overall growth development trajectories. It also ensures a more equitable access to care across different socio economic groups within affected populations