Fighting malnutrition in the Teso region of Uganda by improving the nutrition of lactating women
Immaculate Apio, your project has caught the attention of Institut Cerba, which has decided to support it by giving you one of the 10 prizes awarded this year in the framework of its internal call for projects. Do you have an initial reaction to share with us?
When the results were announced, I was very happy and proud to learn that my project had been selected. This is a real opportunity for us to implement the project in good conditions, without having to sacrifice part of it for budgetary reasons.
What does your project consist of?
Our project aims to improve the nutrition of breastfeeding women in the Teso region, in Eastern Uganda. Malnutrition affects many women and their children in this region, with problems of kwashiorkor* and anemia resulting from protein and iron deficiencies. This project is carried by Teso at Heart, an association that has been in existence since 2015 and whose goal is to foster cohesion among Iteso (local residents), carry their culture and support the community.
How will the project work in practice?
With the help of representatives from each district of the region present in the association, we will first identify the most vulnerable mothers. These may be single mothers with no income, mothers who already have other children to care for in addition to the newborn baby, or mothers whose children have conditions such as autism or Down syndrome.
We plan to recruit doctors, midwives and dieticians so they follow these mothers and their children from the time of delivery until the end of breastfeeding (i.e. about two years), and provide them with nutritional advice. Following the recommendations of these health professionals, the association will purchase various food products to ensure sufficient milk production for the babies while maintaining the health and well-being of the mothers.
The support of Institut Cerba will finance the remuneration of the health professionals, the purchase of food and some logistical costs (uniforms, transport for representatives from Teso at Heart as well as media coverage).