SAVE LIVES OF 600 MALNOURISHED CHILDREN IN UGANDA

1.  Introduction

Cases of malnutrition in Uganda are occurring and keep fluctuating both in the urban and rural areas. Unstable food supplies is a major contributing factor for malnutrition as people from different households fail to have even a descent nutritious meal for themselves especially in the dry seasons. Most of the prevailing malnutrition occurrences are due to reduced food supplies from the rural farming communities and also high food prices in the markets around the country. The long spells of drought destroy crops in the area leading to food insecurity in the country and consequently a rise in the malnutrition cases recorded at the end. Child and Family Foundation Uganda (CFU) conducted community screenings especially in the slums of Kawempe division in Kampala city and got a number of malnutrition cases registered among which were children from the urban poor populations.  Referrals were also received from the community health workers as well as other health facilities and they were admitted to Child and Family medical Center Nutrition clinic for management.

Achievements:

•  28 children managed and discharged as cured.
•  Series of nutrition education to the mothers and caregivers
•  Nutrition education about food storage for sustained food supplies even in dry seasons.

SUCCESS STORY

Paul a 15-month-old boy was referred to CFU medical center from one of the health centers in Kawempe division where he had been taken to get treatment. The mother had reported mild cough and fever with low appetite for food. On assessment, the nurses found out that the colour coded Mid Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) tape used showed red colour which indicates Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM). This nurse is one of the health workers trained in nutrition assessment and identification of malnutrition cases by CFU staff as facilitated by the funds from the GlobalGiving family. He was then referred to CFU medical center for nutrition management.

On arrival at CFU medical Center, Paul was examined and diagnosed with Severe Acute Malnutrition, with MUAC readings 11.0 cm (RED) and cough. The mother reported that being the breadwinner at home, she could not afford meals for herself and her two children since the prices have gone high as a result of the dry spells in the rural farming communities. She opened up that this has always been the case in her home during the dry season. Paul received the treatment for cough and also started his nutrition journey from SAM to a normal nutrition status.  Paul started improving day by day from weight of 6.0 Kg and MUAC 11.0 cm to the weight of 8.1 Kgs and MUAC 12.8 cm (Green) at discharge from Clinic. The mother was connected to the livelihood program of Child and Family Foundation Uganda (CFU) for skilling and be able to earn a living in order to afford descent meals for her household. We greatly thank the GlobalGiving family for the continued support towards the lives and households with children having malnutrition.