UNICEF: Food shortages in Chad lead to malnutrition in children

http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/chad_53158.html

MAO, Chad, 24 March 2010 Malnutrition rates are increasing in western Chad's Kanem Region, as the region is gripped by severe food shortages due to a lack of rain. The situation is exacerbated by local communities' very limited access to basic health care and safe drinking water.

"Without the therapeutic feeding centre here, there would be a lot more deaths and an even bigger catastrophe," says Chief District Medical Officer Dr. Mekonyo Kolmain Gedeon. "We can see the change in health with children admitted. After only a few weeks ... they are able to go home.

"These feeding centres are a critical lifeline for children living in this region. We need more of these centres in order to save more lives," he adds.

In 2009, around 8,000 children were treated at 32 feeding centres in the Kanem region. The centres were established by the Chadian Ministry of Health and receive support from UNICEF to provide therapeutic food and medical treatment.

"At the moment, we have 2,800 children benefitting from the programme," says UNICEF Representative in Chad Marzio Babille. "While severe acute malnutrition is an emergency, a rapid response with appropriate medical care and technology can save lives."

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Tags:

• UNICEF
• Chad
• Mao
• Africa
• food
• nutrition
• malnutrition
• breastfeeding
• therapeutic
• milk

[StephenWoods69]

It makes me cry when you see how little some people have and look at the amount of food that we in the west throw out. It's to our shame that we can't distribute this surplus.

[ThisBoyTV]

Why is this still happening when we have so much in the industrial countries? So sad.

[PiousPrincess]

i like unicef =)