NutriAid is pleased to announce the launch of the project “The New Paediatric Hospital. Together Against Maternal and Child Malnutrition”, in Loul Sessène, Senegal, thanks to the support of the Fondation d’Entreprise Wavestone.
Why this project
In Senegal, 1 in 10 children under five suffers from malnutrition and almost 1 in 5 is stunted.
In Loul Sessène, a rural municipality in the Fatick region with around 27,500 inhabitants, the situation is made worse by poverty, which affects almost 9 in 10 households, and by agriculure that depends on a rainy season lasting just three to four months.
As a result, in times of scarcity and drought, when food and resources run short, chronic malnutrition can quickly develop into acute malnutrition.
Then there is the distance from care. Local health facilities are understaffed and poorly equipped. Transport is scarce and roads are difficult to travel. For a child in critical condition, every emergency can have serious, sometimes fatal, consequences.
Project objectives
Strengthen the CREN at Loul Sessène hospital, the Nutritional Rehabilitation and Education Centre that cares for malnourished children, with new equipment and a more skilled team
Train community health workers, the first point of care in the 19 villages of the municipality, so they can recognise the early signs of malnutrition and refer children to the appropriate health facilities
Launch the “1000 Days Zero Hunger” programme, which supports mother and child from pregnancy through the first two years of life, the most critical period for growth
Produce fortified flours from local cereals and legumes, to be distributed to the most vulnerable families to support the recovery of malnourished or at-risk children
The project is 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.
Follow the project month by month on our channels: we’ll be sharing a closer look at each of these activities!
