INFO on Health and Nutrition.
© Tdh / Odile Meylan -Colombia
Improving the Health of Mothers and their Children Under the Age of Five
The current situation : 2.6 million children die each year due to malnutrition. 1 child in 4 around the world suffers from stunted growth as a result of malnutrition. Diarrhoea is the thirdleading cause of death among children under the age of five. Around 800 women die each day of preventable causes linked to pregnancy and childbirth.
(Source : WHO)
Terre des hommes (Tdh) has been fighting malnutrition for more than 30 years. The Foundation contributes to improving the state of health of children around the world, with a special focus on infants and children up to five years old as well as expecting and nursing mothers. What Terre des hommes recommends in the area of health and nutrition : Provide care for malnourished children The type of care varies depending on the severity of the case. We have established three levels of severity. Complicated severe acute malnutrition must be treated in units specialising in nutrition that are part of paediatric services. Simple severe acute malnutrition can be treated in general medical units via weekly contact with the child and mother. The treatment in this case consists of a ready-to-use therapeutic product. Moderate acute malnutrition is cared for on a community level with balanced nutrition being provided locally. Caring for expecting and nursing mothers The Foundation carries out important awareness-raising activities and education work among expecting and nursing mothers in order to promote the best sanitary practices
possible. Tdh prevents risks linked to pregnancy, provides assistance in the area of nutrition, and ensures that women have access to pre- and post-natal care. Tdh also encourages breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months of a baby’s life. Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) In accordance with WHO guidelines, Tdh integrates care for malnutrition into care for childhood illnesses. In order to better prevent the risks of malnutrition, action must be taken not only in the area of nutrition but also in combating illnesses that affect children just as much as malnutrition does. Today, the fight against disease is integrated into the majority of our Health and Nutrition projects.