Project Report
| May 26, 2026
NATIONAL MASS SCREENING OF CHILDREN FOR MALNUTRITI
By Israel JJombwe | Nutritionist
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.
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Dec 31, 2025
REGIONAL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE REVISED IMAM GUILDLINES
By Israel JJombwe | Nutritionist
- Introduction
Revision and training of the health workers in the new Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM) guidelines is still on going for the different regions of Uganda as led by Child and Family foundation Uganda (CFU). These trainings aimed at improving management of malnutrition are targeting health care providers at different health care levels. These include the National level at the Ministry of Health, engaging the district and health facility leaders right from referral hospitals to health center 2 and community health workers.
The management of malnutrition at the different levels reduces the disease burden in the hospital ensures a quick recovery and prevents death. This is going to be achieved through the ongoing activity of empowerment for all health care service providers and family members having the skills to screen their children, pregnant and breastfeeding women for malnutrition.
The use of home foods which are locally available has been prioritized in every region of Uganda during the training so that special emphasis is put on the foods known for that region. This fuels effective cascading of knowledge and people knowing how cheap prevention of malnutrition can be in every area Regions covered include Eastern region, Bukedi sub-region and Western region completed, with Northern religion, West-Nile, Central and Southern regions still in pipeline.
Achievements:
- More health workers trained in the new revisions in the guidelines.
- Reduction in number of Hospital cases of malnutrition.
- Community Health workers were trained and had a chance to cascade information.
- Family led MUAC concept implemented has ensured early detection and Identification of nutrition cases.
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Jul 31, 2025
REVISING AND TRAINING OF HEALTH WORKERS ON NEW IMA
By Israel JJombwe | Nutritionist
REVISING AND TRAINING OF HEALTH WORKERS ON NEW IMAM GUIDELINES.
- Introduction
Management of malnutrition cases in the Uganda keeps evolving depending on the presenting cases and the research studies conducted. In Uganda, the Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM) guidelines were made and have over the years been revised to solve the existing complications in malnutrition cases. Child and Family Foundation Uganda (CFU), being a champion in research and nutrition management with collaboration with the Ministry of Health in Uganda and other partners led the revision of the guidelines and training health workers in Uganda about the new changes made in the guidelines.
Over the past months, revisions were conducted and the changes made were aimed at improving the screening for malnutrition and related complications at household levels, improving referral chains from villages to the health facilities as well as management in both In-patient and out-patient clinics to reduce the burden of disease, malnutrition related deaths as well as reduce the cost of treatment of malnutrition if detected and managed early enough.
Health workers from the Eastern part of Uganda were the first batch of health workers to be trained in the new improvements in management for five (5) days. The training was aimed to train health workers who will become trainers of other health workers in their respective districts and health centers they are attached to. These health workers were trained in theory and also got a chance to have practical sessions in Jinja Regional Referral Hospital in Eastern Uganda.
Family led MUAC concept was taught to the health workers and it was emphasized as a key concept for screening and early identification at household level. The trained health workers had a chance to train Community Health workers who in turn trained mothers and family caregivers how to conduct these assessments. The same route will be taken in reverse when referring the identified cases for management at health centers with reassessment at all levels. In the first batch, over 100 health workers were trained and more will be trained soon.
Achievements:
- Complete Revision of the Ministry of Health 2025 IMAM guidelines.
- 100 health workers trained in the new revisions in the guidelines.
- Community Health workers were trained and had a chance to cascade information.
- Family led MUAC concept was trained and it ensured early detection and Identification of nutrition cases.
- A refresher training for health workers in the eastern region in collaboration with the Ministry of health.
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