Child Survival
Program
- The infant and crude mortality rates within
the targeted population will be reduced to under 2/10,000/day
and under 1/10,000/day respectively by end 2002. These levels
will be maintained until the April/May 2003 harvest.
The main aim of this program was to alleviate malnutrition
and suffering among the children under-five years in Chingale.
The program consisted of health education, weighing and screening,
distribution of Likuni Phala (Unimix), dispensing of drugs for
common ailments and monitoring growth and evaluation. The highest
number of children the program received was 11,500 in the months
June-October 2002. Most of the children recovered from severe
malnutrition in the months of March-May 2003. There seemed to
be widespread concurrence within the target group that the mortality
rates have been drastically reduced. The Ministry of Health
reports that at the national level, the crude mortality rate
has been reduced to 2.7/10,000 per day down from 8.7/10,000
per day at the peak of the crisis. The reduction in the rate
is attributed to early medical intervention, health education,
and provision of various types of food aid (Unimix, school feeding,
general food distribution).
Distribution of Likuni Phala Or Unimix
Likuni Phala is a local name of a high protein food supplement
for children. The medical name is Unimix. It is distributed
to malnourished children, HIV/AIDS and bedridden patients.
Through the distribution of Likuni Phala, many malnourished
children were saved. In some centers the numbers dropped drastically,
e.g. at Fikira the number has come down from 698 in February
2003 to 361 in May. In Nkasala, many children have been discharged
from the program. In Balamanja the total number decreased from
700 in February to 558 May.
Other Additional Programs for Children
Under-five years:
- Health Education: Environmental hygiene
in homes and cooking methods.
- Weighing and screening of under-five years
- Mothers are asked to come to the center
every two weeks. The child is weighed and the mid-upper arm
circumference taken, the findings are then compared with the
last findings. The mothers are asked to report any problem
or illness such as loss of appetite and any abnormality. If
the child is underweight, the grade of malnutrition is assessed.
If the malnutrition is moderate, the child is put on supplementary
feeding. If it is severe, the child is referred to the nearest
nutritional rehabilitation unit.
Common Diseases Treated: Malaria, respiratory infection,
gastric enteritis/dysentery, worm infection, scabies and skin
conditions, conjunctivitis/eye infection |
