Every year on the 25th of April, the whole world commemorates World Malaria Day, which is aimed at highlighting the need for continued effort in malaria control and prevention.
Ready to Use Therapeutic Food: Chancy's Story
Every mother’s worst nightmare is seeing her child’s health deteriorate.
“It was heart wrenching,” says Magdalene Kalonga, mother to Chancy Kalonga. “Each passing day, my daughter’s body weight dropped drastically. She couldn’t eat; had completely lost her appetite. As a result, she became so weak that she couldn’t sit on her own.”
In Malawi, malnutrition remains one of the major contributing factors to child deaths. According to a report by USAID, 37% of children in Malawi are affected by stunting. Only 8% of children aged 6-23 months meet the minimum acceptable diet.
Magdalene noticed something was off with her 4 year old daughter in February. Chancy started refusing to eat everything, including her favorite meals. She couldn’t stay in school. She was too weak to even play with her friends.
“One morning, I observed that her face and feet were swollen,” says Magdalene. “Then she started vomiting. And having severe diarrhea.”
At Madisi Hospital, Chancy was diagnosed with severe malnutrition. Since Madisi Hospital doesn’t run a malnutrition program, Chancy was referred to Orant’s Kasese Health Center. Immediately, our clinicians enrolled her in the malnutrition program.
On the day of her enrollment, Chancy weighed 9.2 kgs–about 20 lbs. Her mid-upper arm circumference measured 12cm. Clinicians prescribed her RUTF: ready to use therapeutic food. RUTF is a combo of powdered milk, peanut butter, and micronutrients. Two weeks later, Chancy weighed 12.3 kgs–about 27 lbs. Her mid-arm measured 13.5cm.
“I am so happy to see my daughter happy and strong again,” says Magdalene. “She can now afford a smile and she loves her peanut butter. I am grateful for Orant Healthcare’s support. I never knew my child could recover from severe malnutrition. But now? Now she is back at school.”
Orant’s Healthcare Program responds to the needs of vulnerable children by providing them with prompt treatment. Our malnutrition program saves lives.
The Orant Journal
Improving Healthcare Services through Quality of Care Assessment
Last week, we were visited by the quality of care assessment team from Dowa District hospital. Read today's blog post to learn about how this exercise is important to us and the community we serve.
New Wheels from Orant’s Healthcare Program
We are always happy when our support brings a smile on peoples faces and changes their lives. In this week’s blog article, we are talking to Andrea Mwale, a 41 year old man from Chapuwala village in Kasese. Andrea shares his gratitude towards the support that our Healthcare program has recently provided to him.
School Surveys Lead to Better Learning Outcomes
Data is one of the most important tools in all our programs as it helps us measure whether our programs are making an impact or when it’s time for change. For the past three weeks, our Education program has been surveying schools in our catchment area. Check out today’s blog to learn more about how this survey is going to contribute to our Education program.
Improving Healthcare Access in Rural Malawi
We are thrilled to announce the opening of our new Mobile Outreach Clinic this week, which is a great stride that our Healthcare program has achieved! We have started our operations with treating Chatalala Community in Kasungu district, Traditional Authority Njombwa. Read our blog post to learn more about how the new mobile outreach clinic will serve communities better.
Malaria Season in Malawi
Summer in the Southern Hemisphere brings malaria season in Malawi, a dangerous disease that can kill those who do not receive treatment in time. Orant works to ensure that those afflicted with the disease receive the proper treatment and recover.
The Challenge of Noncommunicable Diseases in Rural Malawi
Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) remain a huge burden to the healthcare sector in Malawi. Read our blog post to learn more about NCDs.
Conducting Mobile Outreach Clinics in Malawi
Your donations have purchased a new trailer for our Mobile Outreach Clinic! Read our latest blog as our Mobile Outreach Clinic (MOC) team shares how the new trailer will be of great help to the team’s daily operations.
A New Hope for Mothers in Malawi
In rural Malawi, pregnant women face many challenges including lack of access to prenatal care, poor nutrition, and lack of safe spaces to deliver their babies. Orant is working to change that with the renovation of our maternity ward. Read about it in this week’s blog.
Orant Improves Eye Health in Rural Malawi
On the last Wednesday of every month, our Kasese Health Centre conducts eye clinics for local residents in need of treatment. Read our latest blog to learn more about our eye clinics and how they help people in rural Malawi.