By Tamba Borbor (PR Officer WHH Sierra Leone)
Through its Nutrition Smart CommUnity Project funded by Irish Aid, Welthungerhilfe (WHH) Sierra Leone has commenced a 15-day Sensitive Nutrition Camp from 20th September to 4th October 2023 in Pujehun District.
This activity covers 35 communities spread between 3 clusters of Korgboma, Njaluahun (Barri Chiefdom) and Taninahun in the Makpele Chiefdom and targets a total of 71 Moderately Acute Malnourished (MAM) children.
According to Paul J. Basie, WHH Expert for Technical and Social Issues working with the Nutrition Smart CommUnity Project, the Nutrition Camp targets children aged 6 to 5 years for 15 days of feeding with various nutritious recipes of food which are locally available in the communities.
“Before this activity, we had conducted a screening of children in various communities to determine those that are Moderately Acute Malnourished (MAM) and Severe Acute Malnourished (SAM) and at the end of the process, we identified 71 MAM cases in Barri and Makpele Chiefdoms which we are now providing required nutritious foodstuff for during this 15-day period,” Paul explained.
He went to further explain that during the Camping period, lactating mothers are also taught how to prepare these local recipes in addition to hygiene counselling; adding that within 7 to 10 days of feeding the children with the required food, a good number graduated to the well-nourished stage.
“We expect the mothers/Caregivers to continue preparing these recipes at the end of the Nutrition Camp when they are back home to ensure the children continue to grow well and healthy,” Paul stated.
He thanked Irish Aid for the financial support to the project and making a significant difference in the lives of malnourished children in Pujehun District.
Hawa Nemahun Abu, WHH Support Nutrition Field Staff informed that the project conducts this Nutrition Camp yearly and targets children and their caregivers.
“Here at my Centre in Korigboma, we have 28 MAM Children and we prepare two recipes in all the centers made of potato porridge and ripe plantain pounded with raw banana and palm oil. We make sure these foods are available in the communities for easy access by the mothers of the children,” Hawa explained.
Nyayanga Rose Williams, the Nutritionist deployed at Korigboma Community Nutrition Camp and working for the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MOHS) in Pujehun District, said that the initiative of WHH with funding from Irish Aid is laudable as it provides appropriate food for children that are malnourished in the district.
“We also teach the mothers that they should not sell all their local foodstuffs but keep some portion to feed their family and be food self-sufficient. We want to thank WHH for their immense intervention in the nutrition sector and the Ministry of Health and Sanitation for the collaboration,” Ms. Williams stated.
Augusta Frazer and Patricia Konneh, both Nutritionists in Pujehun District working for the MOHS and deployed in Njaluahun and Taninahun Communities respectively expressed similar thanks to WHH and emphasized that proper diet and food enhances the wellbeing of malnourished children.
“We also weigh and take the height of the children during the Nutrition Camp to have a baseline so we know the actual weight after the 15-day camp,” Augusta said.
Safiatu Sama, a Caregiver in Gombu Community expressed thanks and appreciation to WHH for conducting the Nutrition Camp which she noted is improving the health and growth of their children.
Jeneba Sannoh, another Caregiver at Korigboma Community in Barri Chiefdom also thanked WHH for the timely intervention to feed their children to enhance their proper growth.
Under this activity, Welthungerhilfe Sierra Leone is also providing Toys, Teddy Bear, eating plates, spoons, mats and poop chambers to all Caregivers in the three Cluster Centers during of the Camp which then becomes theirs afterwards.
