A lot has changed in the Sahel since the 2005 Niger crisis. The number of children accessing malnutrition treatment has more than doubled and the health centers offering this type of care has more than tripled. But the numbers of malnourished children are still increasing every year and 1.4 million children are currently suffering severe acute malnutrition in the Sahel, according to ECHO and UNICEF figures. To be able to respond to this increase, humanitarian organizations on the ground are exploring new ways of diagnosing kids faster, and simplify procedures. If for years the acronym MUAC has stood for Mid-Upper Arm Circumference -the measurement tape that helps assess the nutritional status of a child-, medical NGO ALIMA has given it an additional meaning, where MUAC signifies Mothers Understand And Can do it. It is an empowering approach that puts moms at the centre of the initial detection of malnutrition.
In 2014, ALIMA launched the 1000 days project as part of a study in Mirriah, Niger. Under the 1000 days project, mothers are trained to diagnose malnutrition at home, without having to go to a health center. The detection involves measuring the child’s arm circumference and feeling his/her feet to detect swelling or edema. The project also offers a complete pediatric package to children aged 3 to 59 months. The monitoring starts from the last months of pregnancy of the mother. This is a preventive rather than curative approach to reduce infant and child mortality in the Sahel. The package includes preventive care, free health care and nutritional supplementation.
A community health worker teaching mothers how to screen malnutrition using a MUAC tape. Measuring the arm circumference with a little bracelet is a relatively simple procedure that almost anybody can learn to do with a few minutes of instruction.
Says 42 year old, Alimatou Daouda , who is a social worker employed by BEFEN/ALIMA. She teaches mothers how to feel their children feet to detect swelling or edema and raises awareness on hygiene and diet. “ Moms understand quickly, they will be able to do it at home.”
One major difference between the areas where the mothers are doing the detection and those where the health workers are doing the detection is that many more mothers spontaneously come to the health center. “The message is: you are the expert in your child, so if you are concerned, come to the health center” Dr. Susan Sheperd. Community health worker Sani Tata, measure children’s weights, heights and arms’ circumferences and makes blood tests.
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