“Sangita and her family’s happiness had no bound they found out she was pregnant. They welcomed a baby boy after 9 months. Sangita did not have an access to information on proper child feeding and nutrition during her pregnancy or after delivery. So, when Sangita’s  baby was only 2 months old (when technically a child must only be fed mother’s milk), Sangita fed him cashew nut paste, hoping it will make her baby healthier. Unfortunately the nut paste got stuck in the child’s throat and the child died. Sangita was labeled a murderer by her own family and she was forced to leave her own home.” 

This is a true story, which took place in the Lubhu community of Lalitpur district. This story is also a reality for hundreds of women, girls and children in Nepal who are facing the devastating consequences of the preventable problem of malnutrition.

Nepal has made significant progress in reducing maternal and child mortality and morbidity in the last decade. However, the country still has unacceptably high rate of child mortality associated with malnutrition. Every year, 50% of children under 5 years die due to causes associated with poor nutrition in Nepal and around 37% of children below 5 years have chronic form of malnutrition (NDHS, 2016).  Women and girls are facing devastating and irreversible consequences of malnutrition throughout their lifecycle, while the entire country suffers social and economic loss.

We are firm believers that the devastating consequences of malnutrition can be prevented with access to simple and affordable interventions. With this vision and determination, we established SOCHAI in 2017 to support women, children, girls and families reach their full potential in life by improving their overall health and breaking the vicious intergenerational cycle of malnutrition.