DRC. Education and awareness count to combat child malnutrition: word from village chief Ntumba André

SHARE

marker icon Democratic Republic of the Congo   
12-09-2024 | di COOPI

DRC. Education and awareness count to combat child malnutrition: word from village chief Ntumba André

In the village of Mpepele, located in the Kadiata Health Area (Mikalayi Health Zone), Central Kasai Province, the fight against malnutrition has found a new impetus thanks to the intervention of the “Programme for the implementation of community-based nutrition services  in the province of Kasai Central” implemented by COOPI – Cooperazione Internazionale and funded by the World Bank from August 2023 for the duration of 2 years and aimed at expanding access to and use of nutrition services at the community level and supporting the strengthening and integration of these services within health facilities in Kasai, Central Kasai, Kwilu and South Kivu provinces.

Mr. Ntumba André, the head of the village, told us how, before the project arrived, the local population mainly ate foods made from maize flour and cassava, accompanied by vegetables such as cassava leaves and amaranth.

Consumption of animal products and legumes was rare, which contributed significantly to the high rate of malnutrition among our children,” 

Ntumba told us. Poor information regarding the diversification and combination of locally available foods was the main cause of this problem. However, with the arrival of the project, the people of Mpepele gained access to new knowledge through various educational initiatives, which enabled the community to adopt good food practices:

  • awareness campaigns conducted by community animators;
  • cooking demonstration sessions organized by the child nutrition support groups;
  • awareness-raising activities during prenatal visits;
  • preschool consultation sessions at the health center;
  • radio broadcasts, to reach the most distant members of the community.

Thanks to this new knowledge, the number of malnutrition cases among children in the village is decreasing. For this very reason, Ntumba hopes that support will continue until the community achieves a complete improvement in health conditions.

On behalf of the entire village, I thank COOPI and its partners for their support. We continue to count on their help to further improve the health and nutrition of our community.” 

This story is part of the broader context of COOPI's work in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a country scarred by conflict, political instability and shortages in basic services, despite its immense natural resources. COOPI, which has been present in the DRC since 1977, carries out key activities to protect and improve the livelihoods of vulnerable populations, particularly women and children. COOPI's initiatives include combating malnutrition, protecting children and women survivors of violence, and promoting food security through the provision of food, seeds, and training to farmers.

In DRC, COOPI is also involved in promoting access to clean water and good hygiene practices, improving the living conditions of thousands of people. With its long experience in the country, COOPI continues to be a key player in responding to the humanitarian and development needs of the population, promoting resilience and improving living conditions.