MALNUTRITION

Article Title: Mal-nutrition in Moyo district

MALNUTRITION

Moyo Hospital is government hospital in Uganda, in northern part of the country and the research carried out in Moyo Hospital indicates the number of mannerists increases in the last three years.

Malnutrition.

This is a medical condition caused by lack of eating enough or right food in the body for better health and hygiene.

An old woman in Metu Sub County stayed without testing food for three days by the time the nutritionist visited her. No body to help her. She lives alone.

Reference points:

According to 2008/2009 Financial Year report from Moyo hospital Nutritionist Mr. Koma Mote, number of children admitted with acute severe Mal-Nutrition is 146 (M 92,F54).Out of this 16 died, 94 cured and discharged, 06 referred for further management, 04 defaulted (their mothers) and 26 were non respondent (take long to recover and needs constant follow up).

Summary report on Mini Nutrition survey carried 1^st  July 2009

The main target population was children aged 6-59 months living in Moyo District.  Out of eight sub counties namely, Moyo, Dufile, Metu, Lefori, Itula, Gimara, Aliba and Moyo Town Council, only Aliba and Metu have been sampled.

The main objectives were the following:

• Estimate the prevalence of acute malnutrition
• Understand the causes of malnutrition.

Findings

Prevalence of global acute malnutrition (GAM) was 19.1% while severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) was 5.2% in the sample population. Theses figure are both higher than the required standards of World Health Organization (WHO/GAM 15% and SAM 1%). Therefore, according to the survey, the prevalence of malnutrition for under the age of fives in Moyo District is alarming. According to the hospital nutritionist Mr. Koma Mote, stunting was 40% which is above the national average of 38%. Under weight is 32% above the national average of 16%-18%.  Severely acute malnutrition was found at 18% while the national average is 6%.

The above information shows that Moyo District has alarming situation which needs an urgent humanitarian action.

 Acute severe malnutrition from Metu sub county field photo: 14/September/2011

                      Acute severe malnutrition from Metu sub-county (Field visit 11/9/2011

Acute severe malnutrition from Dufile sub county field photo: 12/August/2011

Target Audience.

    

The target group is the households, local council one and women council 

members in the village, head teachers, leaders in religious institutions and all the blog user

The members of finance and planning committee of Moyo Catholic parish have been trained on the topic:  Harmonizing spiritual development with economic development: The church and resource mobilization, committed, self motivated and self driven staff very good at voluntary service.The community members very much appreciate the creative ideas (innovation) of AAP.

        

          CURRENT CHALLENGES          

         The organization lacks funds to acquire the following basic resources:

• Means of transport (motor vehicle, motor bikes) for out reach programmes and taking members produces to market places.
• Computers for keeping information are not there
• Farm implements such as ox-plough and tractor for commercial farming are lacking.
• AAP does not have a projector to easy sensitization
• AAP does not have a generator/solar as source of power.
• Lack adequate liquid cash to promote capacity building in Agro-Nutrition-Income

Current activities.

AAP is in partnership with Community for Rural Empowerment Development (CEFORD) moving in primary schools to advocate about the rights and responsibilities of teachers, pupils, School management committee, Parents and Teachers Association.

Conclusion.

Poor feeding is the main cause of mal-nutrition of all types and affects both under five, children and adults. It also contributes a lot to poor performs of pupils and students in schools.

Given positive attention to support the populaces, most of these set backs will be addressed and majority of the people will be raised out of the acquit poverty line.

 We shall be very grateful to organizations, groups of people and individuals who will be willing to support us in form of ideas and material resources in the struggle to fight and reduce the strength of the biting poverty said by Drati George.

Prepared by:

Field Officer

Jurugo Simon,Metu Maarifa Centre.

Youths and Farming.

 Youths and farming.

After exilic period, the government of Uganda has tried to introduce number of programs in the country to eradicate poverty especial in northern part of the country these includes National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS), Plan to Modernize Agriculture (PMA) to promote the production of agriculture and Northern Uganda Social Action Fund (NUSAF), and environmental Alert (E.A) also fully supports to increase peasants’ income level in the districts of Moyo, Adjumani and Yumbe respectively . 

Mr. Dralowi Charles & Innocent  trained farmers supervising their Maize  garden in Metu sub-county:Field visit 30^th /09/2011

Despite all the above affirmative action, the majority of the population especially in Moyo district-Uganda that has seriously suffered for more than two decades (20 or more years) is still completely below the poverty line. In many homes, acquisition of basic needs such food and education is a big challenge. Some people have ever starved. Sons and daughters of the peasants hardly go to well to do schools.

 Mr. Drale & Drichi Richard trained farmer supervising their Cassava plantation in Metu Sub-county 
                                                        Field visit 14^th /08/2011

Coupling with bad culture, the girl child education is marginalized. Generally, women have very little say on ownership of factors of production such as land, the children they produce and they themselves especially for those dowry(KBT) has been paid.

HIV/AIDS has made matters worse by claiming so many lives of the industrious age group leaving behind widows, orphans, and the elderly who cannot produce, but depend. As such, the dependent syndrome is very high.  This has caused frustration, low self esteem, stress and suicide. 

The management of action against poverty (AAP) decided to present the concept paper on: capacity building in agro- nutrition-income to provide solution to these matters (tragedy).  

Mr. Drale pruning some of the excess cassava stocks for re-planting in his field/garden in Metu Sub-county :Field visit 14^th /08/2011

Advantages.

 The programme will benefit the members a lot and all the blogger users. When the capacity of the members is built, they will be able to produce enough food, consume enough in order to improve their Nutritional status and sell the excess for income for acquiring basic needs. They will be able to feed themselves well, send their children to better schools for better and quality education, get very good medical services and other ‘needs’ and ‘wants’.

AAP has the ability to secure more than ten (10) acres for the programme. There is readily available labour (group members will work at low cost as a demo plots).    

Conclusion.

Good hygiene promotes better health and living for all types of people regardless of children or adults. It also contributes a lot to good performance of pupils and students in schools.

Following positive attention to support the grassroots, most of these information will be addressed and majority of the people will be lifted out of the serious poverty.

Prepared by:

Field Officer

Metu Maarifa Centre.