ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar, 26 May 2010 – Thousands of children were treated for severe acute malnutrition last year in southern Madagascar, where lack of rain and crop failures continue to threaten food security. Across the affected zone, more than 230,000 children under five years of age remain at risk of malnutrition.
Despite the overwhelming numbers, however, several special programmes supported by UNICEF and European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid Department (ECHO) are making strides in addressing severe acute malnutrition in Madagascar. The programmes aim to identify and treat severe cases earlier – giving children a better chance of survivial.
Community screenings
Fidisoa, 32, said she was frightened when her 10-month-old son Fitahantsoa fell ill. “He was so worn out he didn’t even have enough energy to eat,” she said. “My husband and I have to feed eight children, but don’t have anything to eat in the house. This is the reason why our child ended up in this state.”
Fitahantsoa was admitted to the Kirimosa health centre in Madagascar’s Androy region. His diagnosis, like that of many children in the south of this island country, was severe acute malnutrition.
Zéavine Heltine, the community health agent who first screened Fitahantsoa near his home, said the urgency of his condition was obvious. “I immediately decided to take him to the closest health centre, eight kilometres away from our village,” she said.
More than 7,000 community health agents like Ms. Heltine have been trained by UNICEF in the past year. By conducting regular nutrition screenings at the community level – and, in cases such as Fitahantsoa’s, referring sick children to health centres for treatment – they have helped to diagnose and treat thousands of children.
http://www.unicef.org/53739.html
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