Nutritional screening ​of 13500 children in Manzini

Summary
This project conducts door to door visits in five peri-urban areas in Manzini, weighing all under five year old children subjected to abject poverty; whose mothers are low income earners in Eswatini.

Challenge
​The promising employment of the industrial hub of Eswatini in Matsapha, attracts men and women within the reproductive age bracket (15 to 49 years). This has resulted in many children born from mothers of low income earners. Most of these women are single. As such, they cannot afford to take care of all the nutritional needs of their children because of their low income status. The children are left with inadequate nutrition in the hands of caregivers in the informal settlements where they live.

Solution
Through the Mentor Mothers' home visits, Siphilile will measure weight, height and mid upper arm circumference of each child and train caregivers and parents on the importance of adequate nutrition. Malnourished children will be referred for therapeutic feeding. Nutritious meals will be provided to rehabilitated children upon discharge. By learning on the importance of child nutrition, caregivers and parents will educate others and improve child care in subsequent children.

Long-Term Impact
This project will train 158 caregivers and parents, helping to build a positive impact on the child's ability to grow, learn and rise out of poverty.

Siphilile Maternal and Child Health
PO Box 326
Matsapha, Swaziland
Phone: +286 2518 8661
Facebook

Supported by: