Assessing nutrition and non-communicable disease care at international medical corps supported primary healthcare centers in Lebanon

Abstract

During the past several years, Lebanon has experienced unprecedented economic, health, and social crises, profoundly impacting the lives of both citizens and refugees. The burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) has escalated for patients, their families, and the community. In response to these challenges, governmental and non-governmental organizations, including International Medical Corps (IMC) where the intern's internship took place, have implemented numerous interventions to address and mitigate these conditions. Throughout the 242-hour internship at IMC, and as part of a specific project targeting malnutrition and NCDs, the intern aimed to provide valuable insights into the compliance of the supported Primary Health Centers (PHCs) with the nutrition and Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) quality standards set by the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH). Additionally, the intern sought to identify potential barriers that could contribute to patients' reluctance to seek care at these centers. Another objective was to generate comprehensive data on the prevalence of malnutrition in IMC-supported PHCs, facilitating the formulation of new proposals and interventions. Finally, the internship aimed to identify gaps and enhance the accuracy of malnutrition assessments. The outcomes of the internship included the production of several reports and presentations that played a pivotal role in evaluating current interventions, planning future initiatives, and improving the quality of services offered at the PHCs, particularly for the most vulnerable individuals. This aspect aligns with the core principles of the field of public health.