Nutrition Referral Services

Connecting communities to timely, appropriate nutrition and healthcare through a standardized referral pathway.

OVERVIEW

Timely referral is critical to effective nutrition programming — early identification must be followed by prompt access to appropriate services. The GIMPACS Nutrition Referral Services Programme establishes and strengthens integrated pathways linking communities with primary healthcare, CMAM services, hospitals, and social protection programmes, ensuring every beneficiary receives coordinated case management and continuous follow-up.

The programme aligns with the National CMAM Guidelines, WHO recommendations on integrated nutrition services, and Sphere Humanitarian Standards.

Strategic Objectives

Strengthen functional referral pathways between communities and health facilities.
Improve timely access to quality nutrition and medical services.
Reduce delays in treatment for children and vulnerable individuals with acute malnutrition.
Improve referral completion and treatment adherence.
Strengthen coordination among community structures, health facilities, and partners.
Enhance data management and referral tracking for evidence-based decision-making.

Implementation Strategies and Approaches

CMAM Referrals

Strategy: Strengthen community-based referral systems for early identification and enrolment of children with acute malnutrition.

Our Approach:

Train Community Nutrition Mobilizers and Community Health Volunteers to identify SAM/MAM using national screening protocols.
Apply standardized referral criteria based on MUAC, oedema, and clinical signs.
Issue standardized referral forms with beneficiary details and urgency.
Track referral completion through community follow-up and facility feedback.

Health Facility Referrals

Strategy: Strengthen coordination between communities and healthcare facilities to ensure integrated care.

Our Approach:

Establish formal referral linkages with Primary Health Care Centres, hospitals, and stabilization centres.
Develop facility directories and referral maps to guide frontline workers.
Support two-way referral systems that enable facilities to provide feedback on referred cases.
Conduct routine review meetings with referral facilities to improve coordination.

Maternal Nutrition Referrals

Strategy: Ensure pregnant and lactating women receive comprehensive nutrition assessment, counselling, and healthcare.

Our Approach:

Screen women during community outreach, household visits, and antenatal clinics.
Refer women with nutritional deficiencies or inadequate weight gain to maternal health services.
Link women to antenatal care, postnatal care, and breastfeeding support.
Follow up referred women to ensure service uptake and continuity of care.

Micronutrient Supplementation Referrals

Strategy: Improve access to essential micronutrient interventions that prevent deficiencies and support healthy growth.

Our Approach:

Identify beneficiaries requiring supplementation during screening activities.
Refer eligible beneficiaries for Vitamin A, iron-folic acid, zinc, and deworming interventions.
Coordinate with immunization and child health campaigns to improve coverage.
Monitor referral completion and document supplementation status.

Medical Referrals for Complicated Malnutrition

Strategy: Ensure individuals presenting with medical complications receive urgent specialized care.

Our Approach:

Identify danger signs such as bilateral pitting oedema, severe wasting, and respiratory distress.
Refer complicated SAM cases immediately to Stabilization Centres or designated hospitals.
Coordinate emergency transportation or community support mechanisms where feasible.
Follow up after admission to monitor treatment progress and discharge planning.

Follow-Up Monitoring

Strategy: Strengthen continuity of care by ensuring all referred beneficiaries complete recommended treatment.

Our Approach:

Maintain referral registers and electronic tracking using KoboToolbox or approved digital platforms.
Conduct household visits and telephone follow-up to verify referral completion.
Identify barriers that prevent beneficiaries from accessing services.
Monitor relapse among discharged beneficiaries and facilitate re-referral where necessary.

Cross-Cutting Implementation Approaches

Community-Based Referral Networks: Community Nutrition Mobilizers, CHVs, and local leaders drive timely identification and follow-up.
Integrated Service Delivery: referrals are linked with CMAM, IYCF, WASH, protection, and social welfare programmes.
Health Systems Strengthening: GIMPACS works through existing government health structures rather than parallel systems.
Digital Referral and Case Management: using KoboToolbox and electronic tracking to improve accountability.
Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility: reducing geographic, cultural, and disability-related barriers to care.
Partnership and Coordination: working with Ministries of Health, UNICEF, WFP, and WHO to harmonize protocols.

Expected Outcomes

Through the Nutrition Referral Services Programme, GIMPACS aims to achieve:

Increased referral completion rates for nutrition and health services.
Earlier treatment of children and vulnerable individuals with acute malnutrition.
Reduced delays in accessing life-saving nutrition interventions.
Improved recovery rates and reduced relapse among CMAM beneficiaries.
Stronger coordination between community structures and healthcare facilities.
Enhanced quality and use of referral data for programme improvement.

Explore Other Interventions

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See the full Nutrition Programme overview, priority groups, and areas of intervention.

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