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Lack of proper nourishment in the womb can cause brain damage, still-birth or neo-natal death. A child who is malnourished in the critical first two years of life is likely to have permanent physiological damage, resulting in an increased susceptibility to illness, a restricted capacity for education and, in turn, limited career prospects. Malnutrition prevents children from reaching their full potential.
The problem of malnutrition is not always a simple lack of food. Many families who have limited amounts of food do not always share it equally. Mothers and infants, especially girls, are rarely priorities. In Indian families, women traditionally eat last and their diet may not be balanced due to a lack of understanding about nutrition as much as a lack of availability. For example, less than half of Indian children under the age of six months are exclusively breast fed.
Our nutrition projects focus on educating women, especially pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. We also run an emergency ward for severely malnourished children and a nutrition rehabilitation centre where a balanced diet is provided in small, frequent, amounts to increase a child’s weight safely over a period of several weeks.
This centre (pictured above), run by CINI India, rehabilitates severely malnourished children and provides the caregivers (especially mothers) with nutritious food for their children.
At the lactation management unit (pictured above) mothers who are having problems breast feeding due to lactation failure are counselled and supported, along with other members of the family.
Monitoring pregnant women
Around 17,000 pregnant women have been monitored and a similar number of newborn babies watched for any sign of malnutrition.
Community learning
Approximately 17,000 women returned home to their communities to share what they learned in our centres. Siblings (estimated at 1,200) and cousins (estimated at 3,000) of those children admitted will also benefit from the training of their mothers or aunts.
Treatment of malnutrition
Over 378 severely malnourished children were treated in the emergency wards and nutrition rehabilitation centres.
Advice and support
At least 300 fathers and 300 mothers-in-law were advised on the support required by their pregnant wives or daughters-in-law.
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