REDUCING CHILD MORTALITY RELATED TO NUTRITION SAY DISTRICT, TILLABÉRI REGION, NIGER
1
REDUCING CHILD MORTALIT Y REL ATED TO NUTRITION
THE PROBLEM
Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world and is constantly facing humanitarian crisis due to food insecurity and natural disasters. Malnutrition is one of the leading causes of death in the country for children under the age of 5. If untreated or treated poorly, malnutrition can impact children’s cognitive and psycho intellectual growth.
S A Y D I S T R I C T, T I L L A B É R I R E G I O N , N I G E R
2
OUR RESPONSE
Our Islamic Relief field office in Niger conducts various projects in the region to address those issues. To address food insecurity and fight malnutrition among children under 5 years old, Islamic Relief implemented an integrated project that aims to improve health, nutrition, food security, and water facilities. The project is being implemented in the Health District of Say, Tillabéri Region, Niger.
YOUR PART IN THIS
Your donations went to fund the health sector of the project and ensured there was an increase in the community’s access to clean and safe water, decreased food shortage, and reduced malnutrition rate among children.
3
REDUCING CHILD MORTALIT Y REL ATED TO NUTRITION
YOUR DONATIONS IN ACTION
To ensure the project address the nutrition epidemic, the project includes both outpatient program centres and therapeutic feeding centres. The project interventions contributed to reduced mortality rate among children under five years old, and increased the recovery rate of the referred malnourished children. By the end of the project, 171 children were given medical attention, and out of those, 166 children who were suffering with Severe Acute Malnourishment (SAM) received treatment in the health centers of Say and Torodi. Furthermore, during this period, the rate of admissions increased from 15 to 48 cases as a result of the increased awareness about the existence of the new Intensive Nutrition Recovery Centre (CRENI) within the Torodi area. Additionally, 171 mothers of malnourished children were supplied with food rations while their children were receiving the treatments. The project provided essential supplies to various outpatient therapeutic program treatment centres in charge of the SAM cases and also two intensive nutrition recovery centres.
S A Y D I S T R I C T, T I L L A B É R I R E G I O N , N I G E R
4
Furthermore, during this period, the rate of admissions increased from 15 to 48 cases as a result of the increased awareness about the existence of the new Intensive Nutrition Recovery Centre (CRENI) within the Torodi area. Additionally, 171 mothers of malnourished children were supplied with food rations while their children were receiving the treatments. The project provided essential supplies to various outpatient therapeutic program treatment centres in charge of the SAM cases and also two intensive nutrition recovery centres. These centres benefited from supervised visits so that other stakeholders can take the lead after IR Niger completed the project. Additionally, various stakeholders were involved in the process to ensure it is sustainable and lasts after the intervention. These stakeholders included local health workers, local authorities, and government departments. Progressively, the nutrition recovery centre was handed over to local health workers. They demonstrated a willingness and ability to sustain this project’s achievements. As a result of this project, a generation will grow in the region with a good potential to support economic development in the country.
BENEFICIARIES 166 CHILDREN 85.GIRLS + 81.BOYS
171 MOTHERS
5
REDUCING CHILD MORTALIT Y REL ATED TO NUTRITION
SAVING LIVES
Loukman, a young boy of 21 months, was admitted to the intensive nutrition recovery centre of Torodi district where he was diagnosed with Severe Acute Malnutrition Marasmus with complicated neurologic malaria. At 21 months, Loukman is the second eldest in his family. His mother, Safia, said the family’s only income is from the little money her husband makes from the harvest after the rainy season.
S A Y D I S T R I C T, T I L L A B É R I R E G I O N , N I G E R
6
Loukman has battled multiple illnesses and has been to many unqualified health practitioners who were unable to help. By the grace of Allah and as a result of your donations, Islamic Relief was able to fund his hospitalization for 10 days. This allowed him to get the treatment he needed to recover. Today, Loukman is home and safe and his mother is forever grateful for the donation that saved her child’s life.
THANK YOU
FOR YOUR SUPPORT
3501 Mainway Burlington, ON L7M 1A9 www.islamicrelief.ca 1-855-377-4673(HOPE)
Your support has made an immense difference for this community. Their lives will be forever changed, and their futures made brighter. We could not have done it without you, thank you.