Togo: Early detection and treatment of malnutrition saves lives
BOUGOU, Togo, 2 June 2008 – Hundreds of mothers wait in the
early morning at a school in Bogou, holding their children and
hoping to hear good news about their prospects. This small
village is the first stop on a multi-region campaign to identify
and register undernourished children. According to UNICEF Togo,
malnutrition rates exceed 10 per cent in three of the country’s
five regions, designating the situation in Maritime, Kara, and
Savanes districts a nutritional emergency. Some 50,000 children
living in these areas are among the acutely malnourished. One of
the 45 health agents trained by UNICEF and drafted to measure
the children’s height, weight, age and forearm diameter is
pleased with the turnout. “The mobilization surpasses all of our
hopes,” he says. By the end of the day, more than 1,000 children
will be seen and assessed at the Bogou school. Overall, the
campaign aims to reach more than 130 remote communities and
train more than 100 co