"Healthy and local" - combating and preventing malnutrition in children under 5, pregnant and lactating women, Senegal.
| Implementing entity: | Polish Medical Mission | Amount od co-finansing: | PLN 349,160 |
The project was implemented in cooperation with a congregation of the Ursuline sisters running the Thiaroye outpatient clinic in a working-class suburb of Dakar, which is notorious for its low level of infrastructure and hygiene. In Senegal, malnutrition is still one of the most pressing public health issues. In addition to insufficient caloric intake, the diet of the local inhabitants usually relies on a single product, leading to a shortage of numerous nutrients. Combating and preventing malnutrition is one of the priority objectives for the Senegalese government and countries providing development aid to Senegal.
As part of the project activities, the Thiaroye health centre was extended. Adding 100 sq. m. of space to the nutrition centre allowed the number of consulted patients to be doubled to 400. While modernising the infrastructure, the asbestos roofing of the clinic was replaced, a wound-dressing room added, laboratory equipment purchased and the nutrition room furnished. The programme also included training medical personnel and social assistants on diagnosing the degree of malnutrition. In addition, a training on food processing and cooking healthy meals with sufficient nutrients was held. The project was addressed to the local community, in particular children, women, medical professionals and social assistants. Additional construction and infrastructural works are planned in the second module of the project in 2020