In the villages of Loul Sessène, meat, fish and eggs are hard to come by for most families. Yet meeting protein needs is essential for young children’s growth.
A practical answer comes from what the land provides: fortified flours.
They are made from local cereals and legumes, such as millet, maize, rice and groundnuts, and are rich in protein and calories. Once processed, they become a nutritious porridge, easy to prepare at home and familiar to children, because it is made from the same ingredients used in everyday cooking.
Production is community-based: the project funds the purchase of raw materials and packaging. Once produced, the flours are distributed by community health workers to the families of children with moderate malnutrition or at risk, whom they follow up at home.
Using local produce has a double value. It makes children’s diets more complete and accessible, and it strengthens local resources, so that prevention can continue beyond the project.
This activity is part of the project “The New Paediatric Hospital. Together Against Maternal and Child Malnutrition”, made possible by the generous support of the Fondation d’Entreprise Wavestone, which since 2009 has promoted initiatives for children living in poverty and extreme vulnerability, in France and around the world.
