SAVE LIVES OF 600 MALNOURISHED CHILDREN IN UGANDA

1.  Introduction

Revision and training of the health workers in the new Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM) guidelines is still on going for the different regions of Uganda as led by Child and Family foundation Uganda (CFU). These trainings aimed at improving management of malnutrition are targeting health care providers at different health care levels. These include the National level at the Ministry of Health, engaging the district and health facility leaders right from referral hospitals to health center 2 and community health workers.

The management of malnutrition at the different levels reduces the disease burden in the hospital ensures a quick recovery and prevents death. This is going to be achieved through the ongoing activity of empowerment for all health care service providers and family members having the skills to screen their children, pregnant and breastfeeding women for malnutrition.

The use of home foods which are locally available has been prioritized in every region of Uganda during the training so that special emphasis is put on the foods known for that region. This fuels effective cascading of knowledge and people knowing how cheap prevention of malnutrition can be in every area Regions covered include Eastern region, Bukedi sub-region and Western region completed, with Northern religion, West-Nile, Central and Southern regions still in pipeline.

Achievements:

•  More health workers trained in the new revisions in the guidelines. 
•  Reduction in number of Hospital cases of malnutrition.
•  Community Health workers were trained and had a chance to cascade information.
•  Family led MUAC concept implemented has ensured early detection and Identification of nutrition cases.