The MENTOR Initiative recently completed a five-day training on nutrition for 60 community health workers (CHWs) and 10 health personnel in communities and health facilities around Paoua, Central African Republic, to help improve the treatment of malnourished children and prevent malnutrition.
This training included:
- Integrated treatment of the nutrition diseases in children
- Treatment of severe malnutrition
- Nutrition and feeding of young children
“This training is an important step to improve the treatment of malnourished children and to prevent malnourishment in the communities where our CHWs work. There are many misconceptions regarding what adequate nutrition for children is, but with this training we hope to be able to demystify many of those misconceptions” – Paulin Masende, Field Medical Coordinator in Paoua.
In Paoua, 9,2% of the children from 6-59 months are considered malnourished (6% are moderately malnourished, 3% are severely malnourished) and 14,8% of pregnant women are considered malnourished. This is according to a 2021 analysis of acute malnutrition in Central African Republic by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (www.ipcinfo.org)
“Malnutrition not only limits physical and cognitive development but also increases susceptibility to infectious diseases. It is closely linked with exacerbating the severity of such illnesses, requiring simultaneous treatment alongside the disease to mitigate risks.
The treatment and prevention of malnutrition is an important part of MENTOR’s work in CAR where we provide training to healthcare personnel, community health workers and families. We also provide treatment and support to malnourished patients both in health facilities and in community-based settings.” – Joana Sá, MENTOR Programme Manager.
This programme is funded by UK aid.