My mini-project but satisfactory outcome

Addressing the children, encouraging them to stay for their height and weight measurement.

Nutritional Assessment of children (under 5years) through Anthropometrics (Height and Weight) Survey and Provision of Nutritional Supplements for malnourished, underweight and stunted children in Ekulu-Pottery Community, Iva-Valley Enugu state, Nigeria

I decided to share with you a community project I conducted sometimes last year. It was conducted as a result of my interest  in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

Ekulu Pottery in Iva Valley is a locality located in the city of Enugu in Enugu State. The community is named after a valley in the area which bears the same name. The locality is the site of the Iva Valley Coal Mine. The community is under Enugu North Local Government Area, a LGA that covers the most civilized areas in Enugu such as; Independence Layout, New Haven etc. Iva Pottery Community is a remote area, rural area to be precise. The community has just one health centre. They have a large population size, it is a community where a 24year old girl is already  married with two to three children, Most of the women I discussed with said that their community is blessed with children and so they don’t need family planning because children are God’s gift. Common occupation for their men are: sands excavating, loading of gravel and breaking of brick stones for building constructions while most of the mothers are involved in petty trading, others are unemployed.

The objectives of the activities are as follows:

• 1To assess the nutritional status of the Children under 5years in the community.
  2To check the availability of food the children
  3To provide nutritional supplements to children found to be malnourished, underweight and stunt.
  
  Below are some pictures captured during the intervention.

    

Ikeme Amalachukwu (assistant), CPC Chairman - Hon. Ikechukwu Anikputa and the Oluwagbemiga Abiola (Project officer)

Visit to Rev. Father Kenneth Obodagu of the Catholic Church in Ekulu Pottery.

One of the children on a weighing scale

Abiola positioning a child for an accurate height measurement

Using WHO (2005), Standard of reference, 33 out of the 113 people were found to be underweight, undernourished and/or stunting. Prevalence result shown: Prevalence of global acute malnutrition (<-2 z-score and/or oedema) is 8.0%, Prevalence of underweight (<-2 z-score) is 9.1% and the Prevalence of stunting (<-2 z-score) is 13.0% using ENA.

One can easily tell from the physical look of the 33 children that they are underweight and malnourished, a parent had two of her kids among and one other parent had three of her kids among. They both testified that their children have been sick, one of the parents said that a friend just advised her to get Vitamin for her kids.

Intervention

•         big sachets of milk were distributed to 33 children
•          multi-vitamin syrup also distributed to them
•         tablets of Multivitamins given to each child
•          iron tablet given to each child.
•      thereafter there was an interactive session with the caregivers/ parents on the findings

some parents and children that benefitted from the project

A community Volunteer helping in giving drugs to the 33 children

A prevalence of wasting or acute malnutrition between 5-8% indicates a worrying nutritional situation and prevalence greater than 10% correspond to a serious nutritional situation (SCN, 1995). The prevalence of acute malnutrition of this survey is 8%, this I consider a worrying situation. The parents were all advised to always give their children good diet to ensure sound health. 

My intention was to monitor these children and possibly access them after the period of 3months but I couldn't make it happen due to lack of fund. the project was conducted with the little resources I had as their was no financial support from the organizations my proposal was submitted to. 

It feels so good to help better a life around you. I found the fulfillment!!! and I look forward to doing more of community projects that will positively affect lives.

I cherish your 'comments',  'likes' and shares' so do not hesitate to do that. In case you want to do similar project or any community intervention and you need a hand, kindly contact me. 

I leave you with this  'Help a life today'.