Newsletter 02 2006.pdf - Sight and Life

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SIGHT AND LIFE 36 NEWSLETTER 2/2006 Vitamin A deficiency and malnutrition among Sudanese children admitted to an urban hospital Hassan Mohamed Ahmed, Professor of Pediatrics and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Academy of Medical Sciences and Technology, Khartoum, Sudan Protein energy malnutrition (PEM) constituted about 10% of total admissions to the Academy Charity Teaching Hospital (ACTH) during the period between December 2004 and December 2005. Xerophthalmia was found more often in children with malnutrition or after measles infection, and in children from displaced families, among nomads and in orphans. During the above period a total number of 1,420 children under five years were admitted to the nutrition ward of ACTH, 13 of whom had different degrees of xerophthalmia. Two children developed keratomalacia, which in one was bilateral and left the child totally blind. The second child lost one eye, which had ruptured at home before admission. All children admitted were given 2 doses of vitamin A in dosages recommended by the WHO. This was adopted as a routine on the PEM ward. We thank SIGHT AND LIFE for providing the vitamin A capsules. The initial vitamin A level in Sudanese children showed wide variation, but the important fact was that about 42% of them were below 40 µg/100ml, and 20% were well below 20 µg/100ml. This is a level which predisposes children to xerophthalmia and blindness. 10 days after vitamin A supplementation all children showed a significant rise in serum vitamin A to protective levels of above 40 µg/100ml. The National Nutritional Programs maintain supplementation of vitamin A at a community level. They conduct home-to-home visits as part of an EPI team for immunization to eradicate poliomyelitis. Vitamin A is supplemented twice a year in doses recommended by the WHO. The fight against vitamin A deficiency at Ouassa-Beket, Benin Jeremie Orou, Fondation pour l’Aide et l’Autopromotion à la Base en Matière de Santé et Développement (FAABA), Bembereke, Bénin In 2005 FAABA, in collaboration with the Ouassa community centre, completed three major projects to combat vitamin A deficiency: • A campaign to distribute vitamin A • Nutritional education of mothers and caregivers • Cultivation of vegetables by the women Campaign to distribute vitamin A This campaign was announced by the town crier, and publicized on local radio. On 14 October 2005, over 500 children aged between 6 months and 5 years were seen, and each received a capsule. Nutritional training We organized two training sessions for mothers, and especially grandmothers who take care of the children after weaning. The latter are often illiterate and the guardians of traditional taboos surrounding food. We showed these women the various foods (for growth, energy and protection) using posters which stress
NEWSLETTER 2/2006 37 SIGHT AND LIFE the importance of yellow and redcolored foods rich in vitamin A. Cultivation of vegetables After the training sessions by our agents, the women of Beket decided to start a garden for the cultivation of vegetables, especially leafy vegetables. This initiative will allow the enrichment of children’s diets, and will provide them with a good source of vitamins and minerals. Conclusion The success of our operation has encouraged us to continue in 2006. We even plan to bring in an ophthalmic specialist to diagnose the population in our local area. We would like to thank SIGHT AND LIFE for their help with regard to the capsules and educational materials. Continued activity of the Ramala Women’s Group Margaret Anyango, Rongo 40404, PO Box 119, Kenya Introduction We are glad to be able to continue our work in mitigating micronutrient deficiencies and related dangers as well as to contribute to the improved nutrition of all those participating in our activities. The continued support of SIGHT AND LIFE in the form of financial assistance, as well as with educational materials and the links opened to other organisations were essential for our work within Rongo and its neighboring regions, which is timely and relevant. Thus it is in keeping with the overall mission of the group, i.e. to holistically enhance, foster, promote, and strengthen socio-economic opportunities of rural women and children. Health-related issues including nutrition remain the top priority of the group. We strongly believe that health is not only the absence of ills but also the fight for the fullness of life, a life free from micronutrient deficiencies. Nutrition activities Vitamin A capsules received from SIGHT AND LIFE were administered to 3,673 children below five years of age. About 27 days were spent on this exercise. The envisaged outcome of this exercise was to improve retinol levels in children under five and to reduce episodes of night blindness, acute VAD and related disorders, and other VAD-related ailments among children. Rongo and its neighboring regions, such as Sakwa, Kamagambo, Randung, Opapo, Migori, etc. benefited. On various occasions RWG distributed about 5.58 tons of foodstuffs rich in vitamin A. Such vegetables as cabbage, sukumawiki (kale), carrots, kiukamba, etc. were distributed to women of childbearing age and children of five years and under. Approximately 1,500 persons benefited from this program. Many of the women reached were also trained in how to prepare vegetables without destroying their nutritious value. About 63 persons have been trained so far. During such training, participants are taught how to prepare foods without destroying vital micronutrients. Demonstrations on how to prepare such foods were also conducted. Most women at the time of the training
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