Qatar Charity (QC) contributes to the UN efforts to eradicate the growing malnutrition in all its forms, which poses a serious threat to human life, especially to the life of the poor, women, and children, who are the most affected ones.
In line with the strategies of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the needs of countries, Qatar Charity, as part of its 2021-2025 strategy, is implementing an initiative to treat malnutrition in 10 targeted African countries, including Mali, Somalia, Senegal, Mali, Ghana, Tanzania, and Kenya, in addition to Yemen and Bangladesh. Qatar Charity has previously intervened in in this field in Somalia.
Qatar Charity aims to contribute to reducing mortality and disability rates among children under the age of five resulting from acute and chronic malnutrition, improving the health and nutritional status of mothers, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers, and reducing various levels of malnutrition and the rates of stunting and wasting in children under the age of five.
Somalia
In Somalia, persistent drought alongside conflict and rising food prices has led to food insecurity and displacement, causing severe malnutrition in children. Burhakaba, a town located in the Bay region of Somalia, is one of the areas with the highest rate of malnutrition in children.
Qatar Charity, in cooperation with UNICEF, launched a project to curb malnutrition in children under the age of five. The medical team examined the children with various kinds of malnutrition. Some 1,377 children from villages and remote areas benefited from the project.
The project, which was implemented at the Burhakaba Health Center during the period from October 24, 2022 to January 8, 20223, provided food supplements and some necessary vitamins for malnourished patients, in addition to providing health services.
It is worth mentioning that the center provides treatment for those with endemic diseases and offers urgent services to patients in case of crises and maternal and childhood emergencies, in addition to providing supplements and vitamins.
Success Story
The project contributed to saving the life of many malnourished children, who are now healthy.
A child Adam, who was not older than 59 months, suffered from severe dehydration and acute malnutrition along with complications with which he was unable to breathe properly.
His mother Fatima says, “My son was in good health for the last two weeks, after which he had a severe cough that caused the complete loss of his appetite and he began to suffer from fainting and shortness of breath, in addition to high fever, which continued with him for several days. After he was examined medically, it turned out that he was suffering from many complications resulting from malnutrition, including acute anemia. The tests showed that the level of hemoglobin in the blood was only 5. After intensive care, Adam’s condition improved, and today he is happy with his mother and siblings.
