Lack of support by public hospitals, a threat to ELCM fight against malnutrition
By: Sometimes Khama Kalilangwe
As Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malawi (ELCM) is fighting to reduce the malnutrition cases in Malawi through its feeding centers, there is a concern of lack of support in the public hospitals of the country due to food shortage.
According to Mrs Agness Ndalama, the Women Coordinator of ELCM, all children who are highly affected by malnutrition are referred to health centers where they receive further treatment which include balanced diet food. But in the year of 2015, things will not be the same as other public hospitals have no food.
“The establishments of feeding centers in ELCM parishes was to reduce malnutrition to under five children as a complementary to hospitals especially when things get worse, but this year many lives of our children are at risk. It is very pathetic that these children are staying the whole day without food,” Mrs Agnes Ndalama explained.
Mangochi District is one of the districts where the problem has resulted into no food to any of the children.
William Peno is the District Health Officer (DHO) for Mangochi who on October 16, 2015 explained that the hospital stopped giving food to patients including the children affected by malnutrition due to lack of fund from the government.
“Mangochi hospital currently has stopped giving food to our patients due to lack of funding from the government and even there is no well wishers. This means that it will be difficult for us again to support the malnourished children.” William Peno explained.
Situation like this is what has worried the ELCM as it greatly depends on government hospitals as they work hand in hand with its mobile clinic under the Diakonic Ministry of the church.
Over the past five years these feeding centers have however being partially supported by the Malaria Desk of the ELCM that provided drugs and nets to under five children and pregnant women and the challenge is that the project under malaria program is phasing out by December 2015.
The Malaria Coordinator for ELCM, Mrs Judith Jere explained that it is very unfortunate that the food shortage has also affected the public hospitals where rural and poor people depend.
“For the mean time I can not promise for any assistant as the project phases this coming December such that there is no any budget that can accommodate this situation. But it is our wish to support our feeding centers with all the necessities including enough food at this challenging time,” Mrs Judith Jere stated.
“It is our plea to well wishers to help us during this hunger situation where many lives of our children are at high risk. The little that we give to them is not enough for them to earn a living. But we hope through the grace of God we will all fight this war,” Mrs Jere concluded.
The ELCM feeding center programme always start in October to March which is the main critical season of food shortage when malnutrition is high.
More than 1500 children are being supported by ELCM every year.
By: Sometimes Khama Kalilangwe
As Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malawi (ELCM) is fighting to reduce the malnutrition cases in Malawi through its feeding centers, there is a concern of lack of support in the public hospitals of the country due to food shortage.
According to Mrs Agness Ndalama, the Women Coordinator of ELCM, all children who are highly affected by malnutrition are referred to health centers where they receive further treatment which include balanced diet food. But in the year of 2015, things will not be the same as other public hospitals have no food.
“The establishments of feeding centers in ELCM parishes was to reduce malnutrition to under five children as a complementary to hospitals especially when things get worse, but this year many lives of our children are at risk. It is very pathetic that these children are staying the whole day without food,” Mrs Agnes Ndalama explained.
Mangochi District is one of the districts where the problem has resulted into no food to any of the children.
William Peno is the District Health Officer (DHO) for Mangochi who on October 16, 2015 explained that the hospital stopped giving food to patients including the children affected by malnutrition due to lack of fund from the government.
“Mangochi hospital currently has stopped giving food to our patients due to lack of funding from the government and even there is no well wishers. This means that it will be difficult for us again to support the malnourished children.” William Peno explained.
Situation like this is what has worried the ELCM as it greatly depends on government hospitals as they work hand in hand with its mobile clinic under the Diakonic Ministry of the church.
Over the past five years these feeding centers have however being partially supported by the Malaria Desk of the ELCM that provided drugs and nets to under five children and pregnant women and the challenge is that the project under malaria program is phasing out by December 2015.
The Malaria Coordinator for ELCM, Mrs Judith Jere explained that it is very unfortunate that the food shortage has also affected the public hospitals where rural and poor people depend.
“For the mean time I can not promise for any assistant as the project phases this coming December such that there is no any budget that can accommodate this situation. But it is our wish to support our feeding centers with all the necessities including enough food at this challenging time,” Mrs Judith Jere stated.
“It is our plea to well wishers to help us during this hunger situation where many lives of our children are at high risk. The little that we give to them is not enough for them to earn a living. But we hope through the grace of God we will all fight this war,” Mrs Jere concluded.
The ELCM feeding center programme always start in October to March which is the main critical season of food shortage when malnutrition is high.
More than 1500 children are being supported by ELCM every year.