Twenty children out of a population of 8,000 people have been identified as malnourished at the Nyabiheke camp. Moderate malnutrition is based on a weight less than the 80th percentile expected for the child’s height and severe malnutrition is weight less than the 70th percentile. These children receive nutritious food at a feeding center daily in addition to food to take home. The children usually gain weight and leave the program in three to six months. The child pictured did not make progress, but developed pneumonia and dehydration requiring hospitalization, rehydration, antibiotics and warming. On admission he weighed 3 kilograms (6.6 lbs) at nine months of age (less than 60th percentile). He ate well and gained 1 Kg. in two days, so we are optimistic he will improve in the near future. His long term future probably is guarded as his neurologic development may not be normal due to these early problems. After a visit to the nutrition center, a second child with pneumonia was admitted the next day who weighed 6 Kg. at 18 mos. She also has a good appetite and is doing well. We are working on new ways to identify malnourished children and I have led training sessions for the nurses for treating the problem. My knowledge is based not on experience, but from information obtained over the internet from the World Health Organization and from medical journals.
Food rations of corn meal, sorghum, soy meal, beans and sometimes rice are distributed monthly. The refugees frequently sell some of this food in order to buy other foods such as potatoes, rice cabbage and meat if they are lucky. Some raise chickens, goats or cattle which may occasionally add to their diet. Here there is very little space for gardens. I am told that small children receive priority in receiving food. Another person said the father is the first to eat. Family size averages seven or eight children and the more children the larger the rations. Birth control is rare, probably less than five percent of families.
Today we taught community workers how to weigh, measure and plot the information on a growth chart. We discussed causes and results of malnutrition. So there is enthusiasm among refugees and workers to improve the health of the children in the refugee camps of Rwanda.
1 comment:
Sounds like you are having a real impact. My involvement in systems thinking has taught me the leverage points are often simpler and more counter-intuitive.
My cousin who has been involved in international aid for 30 years says we (the US) places too much emphasis on high tech, high cost solutions when things we take for granted such as your chart could be much more helpful.
There will be much to didcuss when you return.
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