SAVE LIVES OF 600 MALNOURISHED CHILDREN IN UGANDA

Background

Management of malnutrition in Uganda follows a documented pattern in the Ministry of Health’s Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM) guidelines. In the management of SAM (Severe Acute Malnutrition) without complications, are children given Ready to use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) constantly for 8 weeks in Outpatient Therapeutic Clinics (OTC) or until when they have attained normal nutrition status.

Currently, the supply of therapeutic foods in some nutrition clinics in Uganda reduced a bit leading to the use of alternatives in some areas in order to manage SAM. High energy diets such as enriched porridges, high energy milk and the Triple mix “Kitoobero”. We have taught the caregivers of children with SAM how to prepare the above diets for their children from locally available food. This happened during the food demonstration sessions. They included a mixture of matooke + silver fish + groundnut, maize + meat + beans etc.

Food stuffs were displayed and organized in accordance to their food value for the caregivers and they were also tasked to organize them, to assess whether they have learned the concept. Cooking demonstrations were also conducted where caregivers were taught good food preparation methods which reserve food nutrients for maximum gain. We kept reviewing the children, conducting routine home visits and also referring whenever it was necessary.

Achievements

• Children with SAM got well and were discharged as cured.
• Caregivers have gained knowledge which has reduced the number of malnutrition occurrences.
• Food and cooking demonstrations conducted iron out nutrient wasting food preparation methods, hence reducing chances of food wastage.

Challenges

• Unstable supply of therapeutic foods for clients.
• Some caregivers cannot afford the food stuffs
• When referred, some caregivers do not reach the referral hospitals hence defaulting.

Great Thanks to the GlobalGiving Family for the financial support toward this cause!

NATIONAL MASS SCREENING OF CHILDREN FOR MALNUTRITION TO IDENTIFY NEW CASE.

Introduction

Nationwide mass screening of Malnutrition was conducted with guidance from the ministry of health (MOH) in different regions of Uganda in the months of March and April. This was done through homevisits where children in all homes were screened using Mid upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) and assessing for bilateral pitting edema to determine their nutrition status. This was aimed at identification of new cases of malnutrition especially among children below 5years for management in selected health centers.

Child and Family foundation Uganda (CFU) staff participated in this activity by supporting in household screening, strengthening the community to health center referrals, management of identified cases and guiding in community follow ups.  Being located in urban areas of Kampala district, CFU medical center received and managed malnutrition cases from areas around Kawempe North constituency and also designed strategies for their follow up process until full recovery. Nutrition education sessions were conducted considering the locally available nutrient dense affordable foods for urban underserved population while those with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) received Ready to use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) until full recovery.

Saving lives of malnourished children has continuously expanded with the program now becoming a recognized initiative by the ministry of Health and CFU being a reliable implementing partner with well trained staff experienced in the management of malnutrition. This has been greatly achieved through the continuous support from the GlobalGiving family in terms of funding, used in capacity building, procurement of medical supplies and support in community outreach activities.

Achievements:

•  A successful completion of the mass screening exercise.
•  Successful management of cases identified.
•  Household capacities built for early identification of malnutrition cases.