In 2007 (the latest published statistics), a total of 245,658 children under the age of 5 were identified as at least moderately malnourished in Burkina Faso. This is approximately 10.87% of children under 5.* Up to 1.43% of children were identified as severely malnourished.
*It is always good to look at where the statistics are coming from, especially at the village level. 10.87% of the children WEIGHED were identified as malnourished. But I will give you three guesses which babies are not being brought to the baby weighing: mothers who are too busy in the fields to make enriched porridge, mothers who know their children are malnourished are the ones that tend to not show up. Therefore, 10.87% is LOW.
The malnutrition situation in Burkina Faso is dominated by undernourishment. The major problems are:
- The malnutrition Proto-energy – lack or insufficiency of protein or sugar in the diet.
- Troubles due to deficiency of iron and/or iodine
- Vitamin deficiency: Lack or insufficiency of essential vitamins in the diet.
The vulnerable groups are essentially, young children, pregnant women, and women who are breast-feeding. Children must not only consume calories but be provided with the proper balance of protein, vitamins, and minerals.
I personally witness malnutrition daily and it is seen a lot more in the villages. As a SED volunteer I am located in a regional capital where there is more access to a variety of fruits and vegetables. At the village level market days only come every three days and many times a family does not have enough money to purchase the proper ingredients to make a balanced meal. Most Burkinabe children eat Tô twice a day if they are lucky. I discussed the nutritional value of Tô in an earlier blog; therefore, the likelihood of a Burkinabe child/women getting a balanced diet is obsolete.
Another major problem is that women and children are normally the last to eat. If there is meat and vegetables they are normally eaten by the men of the household. Female children normally always get the worst nutrition out of any other family member.
Types of Malnutrition:
Marasmus – caused by a lack of any kind of food
- Often found in children younger than 1 year
- Child is hungry
- Severely retarded growth
- Loose skin, especially around thighs and buttocks
- "Old man" or "monkey face" appearance
- No edema and might not have change in hair color or texture
Kwashiorkor – caused by a lack of protein and energy-rich foods
- Retarded growth and wasted muscles
- No appetite
- Flabby skin
- Child may have more subcutaneous fat
- Edema (swelling in feet, hands, and lower legs)
- "Moon faced'
- Hair turns reddish brown or gray and becomes sparse and easily pulled out (see this characteristic very easily)
- Pale skin and "flaky paint" rash
- Anemia
What can a Peace Corps volunteer do? Introduce the importance of a balance diet. Sensibilize villagers about the importance of enriched porridges for children. Another way is to introduce the Moringa tree to villagers. What is Moringa? Research here: www.treesforlife.org/our-work/
Why Plant Moringa?
- High nutritional value
- Income generation
- Reforestation
- Many uses (food, animal feed, living fencing, water purification, medicinal)
- It prefers dry tropical climates (Burkina is perfect)
- Does not need much water (Burkina is perfect)
Basic Nutritional Info (Comparison per 100g of dried moringa leaves)
- 7x the vitamin C than 100g of oranges
- 4x the calcium than 100g of milk
- 4x the vitamin A than 100g of carrots
- 3x the potassium than 100g of bananas
- INCREDIBLE!!!
Dec. 3, 2008: Andre getting the water warmed up in this marmite using a MUD STOVE we made the week before!!! The Water is for buielle
Dec. 3, 2008: We now switch over the marmite to oil to make moringa beignets. Burkinabe love beignets with no nutritional value so we add moringa to make them have some nutrition, YEAH
Dec. 4, 2008: I plant my moringa tree and you can see the line of trees getting planted behind me!!!
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