Support for nutritional screening and treatment in the Meru District, Arusha

Hello, we are Marie-Lien and Sixtine two students from Belgium and the UK, respectively. A few weeks ago, we started a nutrition placement in the Meru District Hospital in Arusha, Tanzania. This involves working with the only nutritionist in the hospital, Dr Rhema, who is very passionate and committed to her job. We were rapidly confronted with the fact that the impact of the department in the hospital and the community as a whole is extremely limited by a severe lack of funds.

We were taken to the paediatric ward to see two babies suffering from severe acute malnutrition, an experience which moved us greatly, and even more so when Dr Rhema explained to us that she was unable to help these babies recover as she ran out of stock months ago of F-75 and F-100, two therapeutic milk formulas which are crucial in the initial treatment of severe malnutrition. Not only does she receive no funding at all from the government to replenish this stock, but the usual providers like UNICEF are currently prioritising other countries to receive it. Therefore, when we first met them, the two babies were being fed a gruel-like maize flour porridge which is not nutritious enough and simply inadequate to ensure their recovery.

We were shocked by this and compelled to help in whatever way we could. We first bought all the necessary ingredients to make a homemade version of F75 and F100 which seemed a huge priority for the two babies currently deprived of support in the hospital.

Following discussions with Dr Rhema, we also determined the key priorities to support her impact in the community as a whole. This involves regular outreach days in local villages, consisting of nutritional screenings of children and babies. Many of the local families are very poor and lack sufficient education to adequately nourish their babies. Therefore, the prevalence of severe malnutrition is high and these outreach programs would inevitably lead to a large number of children being referred to the hospital, increasing the need for more ingredients to provide therapeutic treatment.

We are hoping to raise funds to support this project in the screening and proper treatment of children with severe malnutrition. We would be most grateful for any help you may be able to provide. Thank you