Projects

Zambia (news from the CAI Bulletin - Dec 2003)

Read the latest news about Zambia

CAI's community-based service for the prevention and treatment of severe malnutrition in under 5 year old children in Lusaka, Zambia continues to grow.

Malnutrition is a huge problem in Zambia and deserves more attention, for 50% of the under 5 population is affected to the extent of causing stunting of growth.

Dr Peter Wilkinson, Honorary Country Director for Zambia, recently visited the programme and was impressed with the local healthcare staff and the service they provide for the young children.

Medical staff are taught the importance of identifying children whose growth is faltering and the action and help which can be given - nutritional education, cooking demonstrations and the identification of factors causing or exacerbating the malnutrition, i.e. pneumonia, gastroenteritis, TB, HIV/AIDS.

The outreach clinics aim to identify children suspected of having HIV /AIDS and arrange referral of the family to the excellent Voluntary Counselling and Testing Service.

The future

Fund-raising is a major issue and is a high priority.

Chipata and Kanyama districts were identified as two large, very deprived areas in Lusaka. Statistics have shown that these two districts account for 32% of the admissions to the malnutrition ward (A07) at UTH.

With further funding, this outreach programme could be expanded to include other highly deprived districts in Lusaka.

Progress report on community based outreach programme from December 2002 to December 2003