The Orant Agroecological Demonstration Farm produces strong, nutritious crops using natural farming techniques. See some photos from the farm here!
Uncovering the Hidden Threat of Malnutrition in Our Community
Our Healthcare Team Approaches Nutrition in a New Way
Author: Praises Padambo
Uncovering the Hidden Threat of Malnutrition in Our Community
Imagine a health crisis lurking in the shadows, affecting hundreds of thousands in your community. It’s not a virus, a bacteria or a disease, but something just as debilitating: malnutrition. Today we look at a new approach to nutrition studies in Kasese taken on by our Healthcare team.
What is Malnutrition?
Malnutrition refers to deficiencies, excesses, or imbalances in a person’s intake of energy and/or nutrients. The term malnutrition addresses 3 broad groups of conditions:
- undernutrition, which includes wasting (low weight-for-height), stunting (low height-for-age) and underweight (low weight-for-age);
- micronutrient-related malnutrition, which includes micronutrient deficiencies (a lack of important vitamins and minerals) or micronutrient excess; and
- overweight, obesity which predispose one to non communicable diseases such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and some forms of cancer
Malnutrition remains a silent threat in rural Malawi
Malnutrition remains a silent threat in rural Malawi, owing to high poverty levels which result in poor diets among other factors. Due to poverty, most households can not afford balanced diets, putting their health at risk. As such, the issue of malnutrition affects many individuals of all ages and backgrounds in rural Malawi, leaving devastating consequences including weak immune systems and even increased mortality rates. In a literal sense, the phrase “you are what you eat” means that nutrients from the foods we eat provide the foundation of the structure, function, and wholeness of every cell in our body, from the skin and hair to the muscles, bones, brain, digestive and immune systems.
Children affected by malnutrition (undernutrition) are at risk of experiencing long-term consequences such as cognitive delays, particularly in areas such as language, memory, attention, and problem-solving skills. These deficiencies can affect their ability to learn and comprehend information effectively hence early school dropouts. As such, such children do not contribute positively to the national development when they become adults.
This is what has spurred our Healthcare team to embark on a journey of addressing the issue of malnutrition in our catchment area. The team is equipped to shed light on this silent epidemic and provide a lifeline to those in need.
Why is this initiative important?
Our team believes that the earlier we detect malnutrition, the sooner we can intervene in changing and saving lives, reducing healthcare burdens, long-term effects and improving the overall well-being of individuals.
The assessment will also help our Healthcare program in creating tailored care plans, addressing specific nutritional needs and health goals in our catchment area. This personalized approach will help ensure that our community receives necessary support thus, enhancing the effectiveness of our healthcare program.
This will also help us in our journey of treating noncommunicable diseases that we embarked on some months ago. By earlier assessing the nutritional status of individuals we will better manage conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and respiratory diseases. This will then result in reduced morbidity, mortality, and improved quality of life.
Join the Movement
Join the movement! If you are from around Kasese and you or someone you love may be struggling with malnutrition, reach out to our team for a free assessment. Let’s unite to create a healthier, more vibrant community where everyone can thrive.
Share on:
The Orant Journal
Do you remember Cellina’s experience with drought and her story of perseverance? This week we visited Cellina to learn more and catch up on how she and her family have been surviving on the 15 bags of maize she realized from her 2 acre field. Read today’s blog article to catch up on Cellina’s journey.
Some months ago, our Education Program surveyed all the primary and secondary schools in our catchment area. There were a total of 24 schools: 20 primary and four secondary schools. We are so happy to have successfully conducted the survey and analyzed the results from it, which have helped us to start implementation of some projects. Read our latest blog to learn more about this development.
Malawian culture has always been known as a treasure trove of wisdom, and proverbs being an integral part of our rich heritage. These timeless sayings have been passed on through generations, offering guidance, direction, and warnings that shape our values, beliefs, and daily lives. In our upcoming blog series, we will delve into the world of Malawian proverbs, exploring their meanings, contexts and significance. Read today's blog post which serves as an introduction to our journey.
Read today’s blog about the children’s book, “As Big as the Sky”, a Malawian story about a brother and sister whose love for each other is as big as the sky.
For years, our Healthcare program has been making waves in rural Kasese with our Kasese Health Centre and our two Mobile Outreach Clinics, operating in parts of Dowa and Kasungu districts. But have you ever wondered how our Mobile Clinics operate? In our today's blog article, we are shedding more light on what Mobile Outreach Clinics are and how they operate. Visit the link below to learn more.
Every year, the first week of August is dedicated to World Breastfeeding Week. The goal is to highlight the importance of breastfeeding, to encourage and promote breastfeeding and to improve the health of babies and mothers all around the globe. The theme for 2024 Breastfeeding Week is Closing the Gap: Breastfeeding Support for All, which aims at celebrating breastfeeding mothers in all their diversity, throughout their breastfeeding journeys, while showcasing the ways families, societies, communities and health workers can have the back of every breastfeeding mother. In today’s blog, we are sharing Malita Yohane’s breastfeeding journey and how it has been a game changer for her son Benjamin Kambambe who was born prematurely.
Imagine a world where noncommunicable diseases no longer hold people back from living the fullest of their lives. A world where quality healthcare services are accessible to all, regardless of socioeconomic status or geographical location. This is what our Healthcare program envisions. Read our latest to learn more about noncommunicable diseases and what our healthcare program is doing to free communities around our Kasese catchment area from the grip of such diseases.
“Orant respectfully serves and collaborates with our community in a sustainable way.”
At the heart of Orant’s programs and initiatives is sustainability, which is also one of our values. We believe in not only implementing programs or initiatives but also in creating long-lasting change that will continue to serve our community. In today's blog article, we talk about why we perform maintenance on water wells and how it contributes to the sustainability of our Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) program.