Integrating food & income security in NCD care management and rehabilitation, using food as therapy and nourishment in Busoga & refugee communities.
Food is a key component in any managenent of any medical condition, it plays arole as therapy and nourishment . Food based therapy hasten adherance and drug metablism depending on specifications.
Management of NCD has been hinged on food security at household level to improve efficiency and efficacy of drugs and effective metabolosim as well reducing adverse effects if right food is taken at right time and quantity as specified by Doctors and 1st line care workers.
📌 Project Overview
The initiative by SADO, launching November 2024, weaves together food-as-therapy, income production, and non-communicable disease (NCD) care in Eastern Uganda
1. Food as Therapy in NCD Treatment
- Medicinal eating: For conditions like hypertension and diabetes, well-timed, balanced meals improve drug efficacy and reduce side effects .
- Locally tailored foods: The project encourages using regional staples—e.g. high-fiber legumes, vegetables, fruits—matched to doctor/nutritionist guidance.
2. Community-Level Interventions
- NCD screening paired with nutrition: Health centers incorporate dietary counseling into regular blood pressure, glucose, and wellness checks.
- Kitchen gardens + model farms: Provided seeds, tools, and training to grow vegetables (spinach, tomatoes, eggplant), supporting therapeutic diets.
3. Income Empowerment through Agriculture
- Home & block farming: Enables households to produce nourishing food and sell surplus for income, enhancing ability to maintain NCD-friendly diets.
- Value-additional opportunities: Selling produce, engaging in VSLA (Village Savings & Loan Associations) and agro-enterprises support sustained income streams.
4. Refugee Community Adaptation
- SADO + refugee settlements: Although the Busoga project extends to refugees, similar models by agencies (AWO, DCA, UNICEF) offer strong parallels:
- Kitchen gardens & block farms established in settlements like Imvepi and Bidibidi, boosting nutrition and income opportunities.
- “Graduation” model: initial cash for nutrition support (e.g., first six months), then transitioning to self-production via farming.
- Training cohorts in agroecology, nutrition, financial management, and gardening methods, enabling diets to support disease management.
5. Integrated Health & Nutrition Services
SADO works through health centers and public health workers to mesh NCD protocols with nutrition support—mirroring the approach of Busoga Health Forum (BHF) with integrated nutrition for other chronic conditions.
6. Cross-Cutting Benefits & Multiplier Effects
| Benefit | Description |
|---|---|
| Nutrition + medication synergy | Balanced diets improve drug adherence & metabolism. |
| Economic resilience | Farming income helps families procure medications and diverse foods. |
| Community cohesion | Farming groups bridge refugee-host divides, reducing tension. |
| Holistic wellness | Gardens, cooking demos, financial literacy, and savings groups enhance agency and long-term health. |
7. Alignment & Scale-Up Potential
- Builds on national and international frameworks: complements the Uganda Multi‑Sectoral Food Security & Nutrition Project (UMFSNP) active in Busoga (schools & community gardens)
- Parallels refugee nutrition models: draws lessons from successful programs in West Nile, Kyangwali, Bidibidi—for instance, cash‑to‑self‑production transitions.
- Future-ready design: embeds monitoring and evaluation (e.g., tracking adherence, health outcomes, income generation). Institutional capacity is built through partnerships with local clinics and community health workers.