Acute malnutrition among under-fives and pregnant lactating women (PLW) has a severe consequences on children and fetus development. According to World Bank (WB) and WHO, investment in child’s nutrition at early age (< 2yrs) has a significant pay-off, a justification for AFOD’s intervention to provide; nutritious food (i.e. fortified blended foods, FBFs) such as CSB++ (super cereal plus plus) and other nutrition sensitive interventions especially food security (vegetable seed provision), WASH and Health education to improve the nutrition outcomes among refugees in West Nile region.
Asuru Shamim is a 22 year old lady who stays in Borolo village, Ajipala parish, Lobule sub-county, Koboko district. She is a mother to 2 children, one (Anyole Amuza) 3 years and the other 3 months old (Bayo Shadrak).
During her first pregnancy, there was no hope of regaining her weight as she had blurred vision every morning which increased after giving birth. She always felt weak and lazy with general body pain yet she had to carry out her garden work. Her first born was 2.5 kgs at birth due to insufficient food. After giving birth, she hardly had breast milk to feed the baby forcing her to start him on other foods at an early stage.
Her prayers were answered when one of the mothers assured her that there was fortified blended food being given at Pijoke HC II for pregnant mothers. She was enrolled under the maternal child health and nutrition programme. She started getting MCHN fortified food at 5 months of her second pregnancy when she had gone for antenatal care visit at Pijoke HC II. While there, she was given health and nutrition education by the mid-wife and AFOD nutrition team on the importance of having a balanced diet and good hygiene practices. In addition, she was encouraged to follow her appointment dates for ANC and receipt of food.
Caption: Shamim narrating benefits of the nutrition program: Credit: Nutrition and M&E team
Shamim could not believe after giving birth when the mid-wife told her the baby weighed 4kgs. She thanked God for the good Samaritans who had thought of giving them the opportunity to get such services. She said that the baby is healthy with no sicknesses. She equally feels healthy with enough energy to breast feed and do her garden work. “This fortified food satisfies me even if I have not eaten any other food and the milk flows like never before“, she said.
Shadrak now weighs 6.7kgs at 3 months which makes the mother very proud of the organization as well as the funders. When asked whether it was the porridge that provides all the nutrients she needed, she said that she was eating green vegetables, silver fish, and pasted beans with cassava bread. She noted that she had put up a kitchen garden with greens which were fed on by most of her neighbors.
She remarked that, “I wish this program could continue as it has helped not only me but most mothers out there. If you want proof, check out the health facility on a distribution day“. She also appreciated the fact that the 3rd distribution day had been added as it had reduced on the crowd and they are able to go home in time to attend to other domestic chores.
