Children born with low birth weight are commonly stunted (displaying low growth for their age). Later in life, they are at increased risk of chronic conditions including diabetes, hypertension and coronary heart disease. Much of this damage is done in early childhood. Under nutrition is irreversible after what is known as the “thousand-day window” – the period covering pregnancy up and including the first two years of life.
This is why under the pilot programme, set to continue through 2018 in Moyamba district, 60,000 pregnant and nursing women, and 40,000 children aged six to 23-months, will receive monthly rations of specialised, nutritious food when they visit a health clinic. During the period between birth and 6 months, support will be given to nursing mothers in order to promote exclusive breastfeeding.
“The food rations acts both as an element to prevent stunting and as an incentive for mothers to access health services,” explains, Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab for Africa (J-PAL) Africa, Executive Director, Laura Poswell.
“Malnutrition makes it very difficult to rise out of poverty,” adds Peter Scott-Bowden, United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), Representative in Sierra Leone. “The importance of prevention cannot be overemphasized.”
child growth in Moyamba
Wednesday May 24, 2017.