Tag: Malnutrition

In September 2024, the USAID Social and Behavior Change Activity (USAID SBCA) supported the Kigezi
Public Health Emergency Operations Center (PHEOC) and the Kanungu District Task Force (DTF) to
strengthen the multisectoral response to Mpox and Anthrax. Kanungu district, located near the
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), faces a heightened risk of cross-border disease transmission due
to frequent interactions between schoolchildren and its proximity to wildlife-rich areas like Queen
Elizabeth National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, which increase the risk of zoonotic diseases.
The DTF, led by the vice chairperson alongside the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, District
Education Officer, and Assistant District Health Officer for Environmental Health, organized an orientation
session for 199 school managers. These managers were trained on Mpox and Anthrax prevention and
received 500 posters and 500 flyers to boost awareness. In response, the school managers developed a
plan to protect learners and their communities from these diseases.

The collaborative response action plan, which will be implemented and monitored by both the education
and health sectors, includes integrating Mpox prevention into classroom lessons, sharing information with
parents at PTA meetings, setting up handwashing stations, displaying posters, and creating “talking
compounds” that feature health messages.

The initiative also adopted a “child-to-child” strategy, empowering learners to share health messages with
their peers, families, and communities. Mr. Shaban Adam, the District Education Officer, highlighted the
potential impact of this approach, noting that with approximately 50,000 primary school children in the
district, health messages could reach 200,000 people. This assumes that each child shares the information
with two siblings and two parents, covering nearly 80% of Kanungu’s population.
Several schools have already begun implementing the plan. At Bushekwe Primary School, Mr. Tuhiriwe
briefed his staff on the Mpox response, while at Light Junior School, Ms. Tukurikye Debra introduced a
weekly “Mpox moment” during assemblies. Rugando Primary School, led by Mr. Tindiwegyi, reinstated
COVID-19 prevention practices, despite challenges in securing handwashing facilities.

Through this engagement, USAID SBCA has demonstrated the importance of multisectoral collaboration
in influencing health outcomes. The Mpox response in Kanungu underscores the critical need for the
health sector to work closely with the education sector and others to promote health behaviors that can
prevent and manage outbreaks.

Poor feeding disproportionately affects households, with mothers, pregnant women, and children under 5 years bearing the greatest burden. Malnutrition manifests in various forms, including undernutrition, which leads to wasting, stunting, and underweight, as well as micronutrient deficiencies. It also includes overnutrition, which results in overweight and obesity. Malnutrition leads to direct and indirect costs for individuals, families, and the nation at large. It opens the door to a cascade of health complications including medical expenses, stunted growth, weakened immune systems, and impaired cognitive development in children. For pregnant women, malnutrition increases risks during pregnancy, leading to complications during childbirth and underweight babies.

Mothers suffering from malnutrition struggle with fatigue, decreased productivity, and a higher risk of chronic diseases later in life. Therefore, ensuring proper nutrition for children, pregnant women, and mothers is crucial for their overall health, well-being, and future contribution to national development. Recognizing the critical need for proper nutrition among these vulnerable groups, USAID Social and Behavior Change Activity (SBCA) has implemented a series of targeted interventions in its operational areas to encourage a balanced diet.

These include food demonstrations in selected homes with malnourished children, and promoting the adoption of kitchen gardens for proper nutrition management. Homestead members are taught how to prepare balanced meals using locally available foods to fulfill the nutrient balance affordably.

The goal is to inspire increased household productivity and promote a culture of affordability, self-sufficiency, healthy eating habits, and environmental stewardship within communities. Village Health Teams (VHTs) are the backbone of SBCA’s nutrition interventions, working closely with communities to promote healthy eating habits and proper food preparation techniques.

They train households on how to prepare balanced meals and track progress using the “wheel of good practices,” a framework developed to monitor and improve household health behaviors including nutrition. The Obulamu team also conducts routine assessments and periodic checkups, and when the indicators show critical malnutrition (red flags) the affected individuals are referred to the facility for medical attention and a follow-up is done to ensure that the progress is sustained.

Obulamu, with buy-in from the community, continues to support vulnerable communities to break the cycle of malnutrition which remains persistent.