For children with disabilities, getting enough food is only part of the challenge. Many children may have difficulty chewing or swallowing, need help sitting safely during meals, or face barriers to accessing health and nutrition services. When their families and caregivers have the right information and support, driven by inclusive national policies and programs, children with disabilities can access the nutrition and feeding support they need to thrive.
For years, SPOON and our partner Access to Health have been working together to make that a reality in Zambia.
Since 2018, our partnership has focused on improving nutrition and feeding for children with disabilities and children without family care in Zambia. We have trained health and childcare workers, supported caregivers, developed practical tools, and collected data that help us understand the challenges children face. Now, we are using what we have learned to advocate for changes that can reach far beyond the individual children in our programs.
Data takes us from thousands to millions
Through SPOON's digital health app, Count Me In, our partners have assessed thousands of children in Zambia for growth, anemia, and feeding difficulties. Each child received individualized support to improve their nutrition and feeding. In aggregate, the data from those assessments helped reveal just how significant the nutrition challenges are for children with disabilities and children without family care.
For example, research conducted by SPOON, Access to Health Zambia, and the University of Colorado using Count Me In found that 63% of children with disabilities included in the study were underweight, 68% were stunted, and 98% were at risk for feeding difficulties. Children living in residential care also experienced high rates of undernutrition and anemia.
Sharing data to inform Zambia's new nutrition policy
One of the most important opportunities for advocacy came as Zambia developed its new National Food and Nutrition Security Policy. The policy, launched in July 2026, provides a national framework for addressing food and nutrition security and calls for action across sectors. It replaces Zambia's previous 2006 policy and is accompanied by an implementation plan and a national strategy to reduce stunting.
The new policy reflects greater attention to disability inclusion, including actions related to training, nutrition services, and referrals. These are all important steps toward making sure children with disabilities are prioritized by Zambia’s nutrition systems.
New partnerships, new possibilities
With support from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Access to Health has expanded training to new health facilities around Lusaka, bringing disability-inclusive nutrition more directly into the health system. And now, the work is beginning to expand geographically as well.
Our recent visit to Eastern Province introduced new opportunities to collaborate with The Hunger Project and Save the Children. Rather than building a separate system, with the support of the Dorothea Haus Ross Foundation, we are working with organizations that already have trusted relationships, established programs, and access to children and families, and help make those systems more inclusive.
The result is a growing network of partners and entry points for disability-inclusive nutrition: health facilities in Lusaka, community programs in Eastern Province, government partners, and organizations like The Hunger Project and Save the Children working alongside Access to Health and SPOON.