In 2022, we launched our Child Nutrition Program!

This new program is focused on babies and children ages 6 months to 5 years. On designated days each month, mothers come to our birth center with their babies for a powdered nutritional, “mighty” porridge that the children love. During their visit, we educate mothers on child nutrition and do cooking demonstrations showing the mothers how to prepare the porridge for their children.

This porridge, which is made from all locally grown ingredients, consists of millet, corn, and rice flours, pulverized peanuts, and black-eyed peas. Each family receives enough porridge for one full month.

Every child that attends is registered with our program so we can monitor their weight and upper arm measurements. This practice can prevent and track acute malnutrition in children. “Acute malnutrition is a nutritional deficiency resulting from either inadequate energy or protein intake.” (NIH) For children with acute malnutrition, we work in conjunction with a pediatric nutritional nurse.

In addition to the child nutrition program:

• we educate pregnant mothers on proper nutrition during pregnancy

• we provide porridge for pregnant mothers

• and we supply food staples, such as fortified rice and beans, to pregnant and postpartum mothers in need

As our program grows we will be providing this nutritional porridge for hundreds of children.