Saving Communities Through Nutrition Programs

It's a Thursday afternoon, and mothers with children admitted to the paediatric ward are being taught how to prepare nutritious food for their children. Kamara Daniel, the nutritionist, along with other ward nurses, teaches mothers in the hospital about nutrition. This is usually done through cooking demonstration sessions that happen at least once a week.

Pregnant mothers who are waiting at the hospital's mothers' waiting hostel are taught about local food fortification, dietary diversity, and how to meet basic nutritional needs.Nutrition in this local setting is very important. Food security plays a critical role in breaking the cycle of malnutrition and improving pregnancy outcomes, among other benefits.

Through these cooking demonstrations, Bwindi Community Hospital has helped many children thrive. They are discharged fully recovered from malnutrition. When children are admitted, the mothers are educated, babies are fed, and their progress is monitored.

Ainemukama, an 8-year-old suffering from malnutrition with edema, was admitted to BCH for 3 weeks. His condition improved with proper feeding and rehabilitation through local food fortification in the hospital kitchen. Ainemukama survived, became healthy, gained weight, and his mother now prepares nutritious foods at home, having learned from the nurses' demonstrations.

Many frail and lethargic children struggle to participate in daily activities with their peers due to severe malnutrition. Community health workers from Bwindi Community Hospital assess households for malnutrition during their routine village visits. Families on the hospital's nutrition program are provided education on balanced diets, supplements, and nutritious food packages, including ready-to-use therapeutic food. With guidance and support, families are able to prepare wholesome meals using locally available ingredients.

Bwindi Community Hospital intends to take these nutrition programs to communities through outreach programs, so that many mothers can access these important demonstrations and more children can be prevented from developing malnutrition.

By Elizabeth Namara