UNICEF: Fighting undernutrition in Cameroon

http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/cameroon_51756.html

TCHONTCHI, Cameroon, 13 November 2009 Undernutrition is one of the biggest killers of children in Cameroon. The northern region is particularly hard hit; since July 2009, some 155 cases of severe acute malnutrition in children have been registered at the local health centre in Tchontchi alone.

In response, UNICEF is supporting an initiative in the region that is bringing more than 400 community health volunteers to area households to educate families about nutrition.

Sara Djanatou is one such community volunteer in Tchontchi. She travels up to 15 kilometres every day to spread key messages on good nutrition.

A lot of the people in this area, particularly women, are illiterate, she says. The size of families here is also very high. So this, coupled with poverty, means that many families cant afford to have two meals a day.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• UNICEF
• Cameroon
• Tchontchi
• children
• nutrition
• undernutrition
• health