Babies in poor countries often lack nutritious food to help them grow well and stay healthy. This causes malnutrition.

There are different kinds of malnutrition.
1. Mild malnutrition is the most common form. The baby does not develop and grow as he should and he appears small and thin. He lacks resistance to fight infections and becomes more seriously ill, and takes longer to recover, than a well-nourished baby. When such a baby contracts malaria, measles, TB or any other infectious disease he is in danger of losing his life.

2. Severe malnutrition. This is a serious medical condition. Often the stomachs and liver of these babies are damaged. They are unable to digest normal Infant Milk Formula or porridge. They are at risk of their hearts failing if too much fluid is given. Their bodies cannot handle too much protein. They are also prone to infection because their immune systems are at a low. These babies will die if they do not receive the correct medical treatment and food.

There are two main types of severe malnutrition.
1. Wet Malnutrition or Kwashiorkor occurs when the baby lacks proteins and energy giving foods.

2. Dry Malnutrition or Marasmus occurs when the baby is not getting enough of any kind of food.

In November 2007 a Baby Nutrition Program at Longezia Mission Base. The program is under the supervision of Susan Hundshamer (Registered Nurse) and Stephanie Brink (Professional Midwife) who run the Medical Program.

Babies and children on the Nutrition program are carefully monitored. Each week they are measured and weighed and their progress recorded.

Each baby receives specific food suited for their needs which are prepared before hand at Longezia Mission Base.

All the Caregivers/mothers of the babies and children on this program receive instruction, information and training on how to prepare good, healthy "family foods", how to prepare good "weaning foods" and how to prevent their children from becoming malnourished in the first place.

Agnes Malauzi is being trained to run this program under Susan and Stephanie. An important aspect of the success of this program is for Agnes to do home visits. As a respected mother she is highly regarded in the community and the ideal person to run this program.

 
Return to the list of our services

In Zambia a child is considered an Orphan when one or both parents have died. Most deaths are accepted to be AIDS related. In the Zambezi Valley people struggle to survive due to the harsh environment, poverty and disease. Most families live below the bread line.

There are no Orphanages operating in our area in the Zambezi Valley. Orphaned children are absorbed into the extended family. This is a good way of taking care of Orphans, however often it is the Grandparents or aunts, who themselves are struggling to survive, who have to take care of them. These Care-givers are mostly ill equipped for this task. Older Orphans are often not treated well and in many instances they become the “work force” of these families.

Many “vulnerable” children live in extremely poverty. Often the father has abandoned the family leaving the mother to care for her children on her own. HIV+ mothers need an alternative milk supply for their babies.

To provide an Orphaned or Vulnerable Baby with the necessary Infant Milk Formula to grow and be healthy is IMPOSSIBLE for most families. It is simply too expensive. Many Orphaned babies succumb due to malnutrition.

It is only through programs such as the Baby Milk Support Program, that any of them have hope for a future.

HOW DOES THE PROGRAM WORK….?

* Desperate Care-givers/families usually hear about the program from others who have been helped before.

* Pastors and Church leaders will often refer Care-givers/vulnerable families to us.

* Local clinics refer HIV+ mothers to us.

* Each baby is individually assessed to determine the level of need and the period of time they would be on the program.

* If the mother of a vulnerable baby is still managing to breastfeed, we encourage her to continue but will supply Milk Formula for a specific period, as an additional supplement to the babies’ diet.

* Once approved for the program, Care-givers bring the babies to Longezia Mission Base once a month. We keep a record of their progress according to their weight gain/loss. We check that babies are taken for all their injections as required by the law.

* Babies on the program regularly receive care-packages with blankets, diapers, toiletries and clothes.

* Time is spent with the Care-giver discussing problems and giving and sharing advice about health, hygiene, food preparation, diet etc. pertaining to the baby in their care.


 
Return to the list of our services