By Caroline Nansukusa S.
The SPOON United States team visited Uganda to reflect on the achievements of the on-going capacity building, responsive feeding training, and the innovative ‘Count Me In’ (CMI) which is the ministry of Health app under Nutrition and feeding efforts in Uganda
SPOON USA is a partner to the Association of Religious in Uganda (ARU) through the Catholic Care for Children Uganda (CCCU) Program. SPOON promotes Nutrition, Improved feeding practices and the Count Me In App through it’s Master Trainers who offer capacity building and monitoring to Child Care Programs under CCCU.
The team wanted to strengthen partnerships, and explore the future of this important work. They began the visit with a courtesy call to the CCCU and ARU leadership, where SPOON’s Executive Director, Mishelle, and Senior Director of Programs and Partnerships-Tammy, expressed deep gratitude for the collaboration since 2018. They acknowledged the unfortunate pause in the program due to shifting donor priorities, but reaffirmed their commitment to seeking new funding to sustain the gains made in children’s nutrition.
Since 2019, SPOON’s nutrition and feeding project under the ARU-CCCU program has transformed the lives of children in 17 Child Care Institution/Programs (CCI/Ps) across Uganda. This is done through capacity building, responsive feeding and Nutrition training, and the innovative Count Me In (CMI) mHealth app.
Over 1,100 caregivers, CCI/P staff, and parents have been empowered to improve child nutrition, reaching out to more than 500 children with sustainable, locally rooted feeding practices. The project has contributed to improved nutrition status, strengthened monitoring systems, and renewed confidence among caregivers to provide inclusive and responsive care.
The team set aside a day and visited 2 CCI/Ps – St. Francis Revival Babies Home-Kyato, and St. Vincent Pallotti transitory community-based program, both in Masaka. At each CCI, they witnessed the CMI app in action-growth assessments, responsive feeding techniques, and inclusive care for children with disabilities. The Staff shared their experiences of how the program had reshaped their approach, with Sr. Sylvia Nassaka, Administrator at St. Vincent Pallotti, noting, “I have more confidence caring for children with disabilities, unlike before when I would just refer them.”
While the positive changes were evident, challenges remain, particularly the lack of resources to conduct anemia assessments and follow-ups. In this case, CCCU will still be glad for willing partners to support in this line of care.
On another day’s evening, the Rogers family, long-time friends and supporters of SPOON, hosted a dinner at Latitude 0 Hotel in Makindye, bringing together SPOON, CCCU master trainers, and other partners. The evening was filled with companionship, reflection, and high-level networking, further strengthening the community of support for child nutrition in Uganda.
The visit concluded with a renewed sense of purpose and appreciation for the shared efforts that have improved the lives of hundreds of children. While funding challenges remain, the commitment to advancing children’s nutrition and responsive care continues to unite SPOON, CCCU, and their partners in this vital mission.
