FROM THE FIELD
Walk into any child health clinic in Nsanje, you are likely to hear mothers discussing the benefits of the community-based therapeutic care (CTC) programme which treats malnourishment in children. You will hear them exchange stories of what they heard about the programme, either from other mothers whose children are now well and healthy, from community health workers or indeed from their own chiefs. While these mothers chat, health workers weigh and measure the children, ensuring that every child is putting on weight and growing at the rate he or she should be. These children are also checked for signs of other illnesses should they need to be treated at the district hospital. They are given nutrient-rich “ready to use therapeutic food” (RUTF), known locally as chiponde. The RUTF is already mixed to ensure that mothers can feed their children even while working in the fields. This programme has come a long way in addressing malnutrition in Ksanje’s children.[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
