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Fighting malnutrition through preventive approach – Parents MUAC

Since 2005, MSF has been supporting the Ministry of Public Health in Magaria, Zinder region, to reduce the mortality rate of children under five. MSF teams are working in health structures that provide paediatric and nutritional care.

In Magaria hospital’s paediatric unit, MSF teams treat children who have been hospitalised for severe illnesses other than malnutrition. At the hospital level, MSF also works in the Intensive Therapeutic Feeding Centre (ITFC), where children with severe malnutrition and related illnesses such as malaria, respiratory infections or diarrhoea are treated.

MSF also supports health centres and health posts, including outpatient therapeutic feeding centres. Moreover, MSF undertakes awareness-raising activities in villages to inform the community about the detection and prevention of childhood illnesses.

In 2018, MSF has started a new preventive approach to fighting child malnutrition by encouraging early screening by parents, directly in the home. The “Parents MUAC” initiative aims to reduce the number of hospital admissions and deaths linked to late diagnosis of malnutrition. In 2018, MSF is implementing this strategy in 4 health zones in the districts of Magaria and Dungass.

MSFSTO23633

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