The Essential Nutrition Actions (ENA) Framework
The ENA framework promotes a “nutrition through the life cycle” approach, addressing women’s nutrition during pregnancy and lactation, optimal IYCF (breastfeeding and complementary feeding), nutritional care of sick and malnourished children (including zinc, vitamin A and ready to use therapeutic foods), and the control of anemia, vitamin A and iodine deficiencies. The ENA framework emphasizes that multiple program contact points at health facilities and beyond be used to reach mothers and children in order to give and re-enforce ENA messages.
The training component for the implementation of the ENA framework at both the health facility and community levels comprises a trilogy of materials, all available here, and are as follows:
Understanding the Essential Nutrition Actions (ENA) Framework describes a selection of the tools and guidance that have been developed to support implementation of the ENA framework, including key message booklets, training programs, and assessment tools.
I. The Booklet of Key ENA Messages illustrates the key ENA messages and can be used by those implementing and supporting health, nutrition, and food security programs for improving nutrition practices among pregnant and lactating mothers and children under two.
IIa and IIb. ENA Framework and Training Guide and Handouts equips health service providers with the technical, action-oriented nutrition knowledge and counseling skills needed to support pregnant women, mothers with children under two years of age, and other key family members to adopt optimal nutrition practices.
III. ENA Community Volunteers Training Guide equips semi-literate or illiterate Community Volunteers with the basic action-oriented nutrition knowledge and counseling skills needed to support pregnant women, mothers with children under two years and other key family members to adopt optimal nutrition practices.