News From Africa. Vol. 60, No. 5
March 19, 2024
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By Jennifer Wenningkamp
In Matoso, Kenya, and Agaro Bushi, Ethiopia, amidst the verdant fields of these rural communities, lies a silent crisis that touches the most vulnerable: our children. Malnutrition, a dire consequence of food scarcity, inadequate storage, and economic instability, threatens the future of countless young lives. At Lalmba, we witness daily the struggles and resilience of families fighting against the grip of hunger.
The story of a little bright-eyed young boy from a remote village near Matoso, brings this crisis to life. His journey to Lalmba began with his grandmother’s desperate walk to our clinic, seeking help for her grandson’s alarming weight loss and lethargy, classic signs of severe malnutrition. Like many in the surrounding areas, his family depended on small-scale farming and fishing, which, in recent years, has become increasingly unreliable due to shifting weather patterns and over-fishing in the lake.
Upon their arrival, his hungry grandmother was greeted with warmth and immediate action. Our staff quickly identified this young boy as severely malnourished, with not long to live unless immediate action was taken. They were both enrolled in our Chakula Bora program and received life-saving nutritional support and medical care.
The recovery of malnourished children like this little boy is both rapid and remarkable. Within weeks, children who once faced severe health risks due to malnutrition begin to show signs of improvement. Their energy returns, their smiles brighten, and they start to engage with the world around them in new ways. This swift transformation underscores the impact of Lalmba’s efforts and the resilience of the human spirit.
But our commitment extends beyond helping a child recover. Through education on locally fortified foods and sustainable practices, we empower families to sustain their health gains. This holistic approach ensures that children not onlyrecover but also thrive, embarking on a new beginning filled with possibilities.
Your support is crucial in this life-saving
mission. Together, we can continue to provide hope and healing to children and families at the end of the road. Join us in transforming lives and nurturing futures, one child at a time.
As we continue Lalmba’s mission to support the most vulnerable, recent trends have highlighted an alarming rise in malnutrition cases within the communities we serve in Kenya and Ethiopia. This increase prompts us to delve deeper into the underlying causes, seeking not only to provide immediate aid but also to address the root issues contributing to food scarcity.
In the regions surrounding Agaro Bushi, Ethiopia, and Matoso, Kenya, several factors exacerbate the challenge of securing sufficient, nutritious food. A significant portion of these communities relies on subsistence farming, dependent on natural rainfall and traditional storage methods. However, the absence of electricity complicates food preservation, leaving families vulnerable to crop failures and food shortages.
Moreover, both countries face the double burden of relying on imported food staples, such as cooking oil and fatty foods, while grappling with national inflation and the high cost of fuel. These economic pressures make it increasingly difficult for families to afford the essentials, pushing more households into food insecurity.
The situation is further complicated by changing weather patterns, with prolonged droughts and unpredictable rainy seasons disrupting traditional agricultural practices. Livestock, a critical source of nutrition and income for many families, suffer from the lack of water and grazing land, leading to decreased food availability and higher prices for meat and milk.
As we navigate these challenges, Lalmba’s approach focuses on comprehensive support for affected families. From initial medical treatment and nutritional support to education on sustainable food practices, our goal is to empower communities to overcome these obstacles. By understanding the complex web of factors contributing to malnutrition, we can tailor our interventions to meet the immediate and long-term needs of those we serve.
Dehydration is a problem with malnourished children and in severe malnutrition, special formulas and rehydration solution are needed. Resomal, a oral rehydration solution, and the F-100 formula are not available through MEDS (Mission for Essential Drugs and Supplies). Dehydration would be a reason for referral to a nearby hospital. They are also more prone to infection so a severe presentation of an illness such as Malaria could be another reason for referral. All other cases are treated as outpatient care by our clincal staff.
Dr. Manasa Irwin
Lalmba International Medical Director (Kenya)
Lalmba Association
PO Box 2516,
Monument, CO 80132 USA
lalmba@lalmba.org
720-260-6785
Accountability and Disclosure
EIN: 43-6057338
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