5 December 2008: Child malnutrition in the district of Khombole in Senegal has fallen dramatically thanks to a national nutrition strengthening project funded by the World Bank in partnership with Plan Senegal.

The project, now in its second phase (2007–2011), aims to improve the nutritional and sanitary situation of children aged under 5, as well as pregnant and breastfeeding women.

An evaluation in 2003 showed a high malnutrition rate of 22% among children aged under 2 throughout the district.  The main causes included:

• extreme poverty
• poor basic hygiene and sanitation
• a fast rising population
• harmful cultural practices on nutrition.
  

These factors contributed to the strong prevalence of diseases such as malaria, diarrhoea, and acute respiratory infections.  

Tackling the problem

To help, Plan has been working to improve accessibility to nutrition services and strengthen technical capacities by training and supervising new health workers.

Regular supplements of vitamin A are also supplied for children aged under 5 and breastfeeding women, in order to prevent harmful consequences of deficiency such as loss of sight.

Plan also carries out systematic de-worming of children and has began the free distribution of impregnated mosquito nets to prevent malaria.

Community approach

So far the malnutrition rate has fallen from 22% in 2003 to 8% in 2008. Plan has also increased its coverage of affected communities from 15.5% to 94% for the same period.

The strong participation of the community through district delegates, local leaders, women groups and mothers’ committees has been key to the success.

Saving lives

Mbaye Ndiaye, a community health educator from the rural community of Ndiayène Sirakh, said: “The activities of the new programme have really met our needs and the community approach has been the most significant factor. We can say that this approach and our commitment are at the root of behaviour changes and practices, which have improved the nutritional situation of the children in our community.

“Any person… will tell you that we have recorded less death of children during the last 2 years, even during the rainy season, which used to be the period of the highest death rates.”