SAVE LIVES OF 600 MALNOURISHED CHILDREN IN UGANDA

REVISING AND TRAINING OF HEALTH WORKERS ON NEW IMAM GUIDELINES.

1.  Introduction

Management of malnutrition cases in the Uganda keeps evolving depending on the presenting cases and the research studies conducted. In Uganda, the Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM) guidelines were made and have over the years been revised to solve the existing complications in malnutrition cases. Child and Family Foundation Uganda (CFU), being a champion in research and nutrition management with collaboration with the Ministry of Health in Uganda and other partners led the revision of the guidelines and training health workers in Uganda about the new changes made in the guidelines.

Over the past months, revisions were conducted and the changes made were aimed at improving the screening for malnutrition and related complications at household levels, improving referral chains from villages to the health facilities as well as management in both In-patient and out-patient clinics to reduce the burden of disease, malnutrition related deaths as well as reduce the cost of treatment of malnutrition if detected and managed early enough.

Health workers from the Eastern part of Uganda were the first batch of health workers to be trained in the new improvements in management for five (5) days. The training was aimed to train health workers who will become trainers of other health workers in their respective districts and health centers they are attached to. These health workers were trained in theory and also got a chance to have practical sessions in Jinja Regional Referral Hospital in Eastern Uganda.

  Family led MUAC concept was taught to the health workers and it was emphasized as a key concept for screening and early identification at household level. The trained health workers had a chance to train Community Health workers who in turn trained mothers and family caregivers how to conduct these assessments. The same route will be taken in reverse when referring the identified cases for management at health centers with reassessment at all levels. In the first batch, over 100 health workers were trained and more will be trained soon.   

Achievements:

•  Complete Revision of the Ministry of Health 2025 IMAM guidelines.
•  100 health workers trained in the new revisions in the guidelines. 
•  Community Health workers were trained and had a chance to cascade information.
•  Family led MUAC concept was trained and it ensured early detection and Identification of nutrition cases.
•  A refresher training for health workers in the eastern region in collaboration with the Ministry of health.
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