Umu Shour, Nutritionist
Addressing childhood malnutrition has become a major focus for RHCI. In Sierra Leone, 1 in 3 children are malnourished. New staff member Umu Shour, a Njala University graduate with nutritionist and nursing degrees, came on staff in Tikonko on May 1, 2020 to lead the child malnutrition program.
Umu’s role includes education for parents, caregivers and health care workers on proper nutrition, and evaluation and treatment of children ages 5 and under with moderate (MAM) or severe acute malnutrition (SAM). Starting with the evaluation of children at the RHCI motorbike clinics in the Tikonko and Gondama catchment areas, in May, Umu identified 36 children in 6 of the 8 clinics with MAM or SAM. RHCI is now providing supplemental feeding with Pikinmix and Umu is monitoring them. Pikinmix is a nutritional product produced locally in Bo, and is made from sesame seeds, pigeon peas, rice and cane sugar. Several children were severely malnourished with complications and were transported by RHCI’s truck to the Bo District Hospital Feeding Program for children.
A key component of the Malnutrition program is education. Umu provides education for parents, health care workers and other caregivers on use of local foods to provide a healthy diet for children. Using a holistic approach, the children will also be brought up to date on Vitamin A supplementation, deworming medication and routine vaccines. Using food demonstrations and introducing recipes made from locally sourced food, Umu will be able to assist in long-term management and prevention of malnutrition.
With her office at the Mbao-mi Mothers’ Home, Umu will also provide nutrition education to pregnant and post-partum women, including topics such as breastfeeding, foods to be introduced at 6 months, nutrition for young children and nutrition while pregnant or breast-feeding.
Umu, Allieu, and Manley organizing the PikinMix which are purchased in 1 KG bags
Good nutrition, especially in the first 1000 days of life, is critical for a child’s long-term health, growth and brain development. RHCI’s malnutrition program, with Umu in charge, will make an impact on the lives of many children. As resources become available, RHCI hopes to expand the program to other regions of the Tikonko Chiefdom.
Meanwhile, back in Minnesota, a team of volunteers is learning about child malnutrition and has met with Umu via Zoom to work together on this important project. Team members include Julie and Alexa Hoffer, Dr. Beth Detlie, Dr. David Parker, Maggie Pilacinkski, Marie Stodolka and Carol Nelson.