Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Food Security: Guests Bug Out at the Dutch Embassy

Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food which meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.             (http://www.fao.org/economic/ess/ess-fs/en/)


http://washdiplomat.com/PouchArticle/cms/81-dutchinsects.html



Guests Bug Out at the Dutch Embassy

by Kylee Zabel

Cicadas, grasshoppers and other bugs tend to, well, bug a lot of people. But for others, those pesky critters are mouth-watering treats.
The growing hype over eating insects as tasty, ecologically friendly snack alternatives prompted the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Washington to host a discussion on the trend, featuring speeches from three experts in entomophagy (the study of the human consumption of insects) and entomology on June 26.
The talk was capped off not by the usual embassy fare of bite-size sandwiches or salmon crostinis, but by mealworms, crickets and cicadas — including the Brood II cicadas making all that noise in the Washington area this summer.


Photos: Kylee Zabel
The Dutch Embassy in Washington recently held a discussion on insects as a sustainable food source for people.
According to Marcel Dicke, chair of the Department of the Laboratory of Entomology at Wageningen University, consuming insects could, in some ways, replace meat consumption. He said some edible insects have more omega-3s than meat products such as chicken, pork and beef and are generally higher in calcium, iron and zinc.

“We’ve always been told that we should not be involved with ‘creepy crawlies,’” said Dicke, “but eating insects offers many advantages.”


Professor Michael Raupp of the University of Maryland removes wings from cicadas before consumption.
One of the main ones is the environment: Raising insects doesn’t require large swaths of land, unlike traditional livestock farming. The land-clearing process that is often used to expand production is minimal and insects require considerably less farm feed than large mammals. Insects also emit fewer greenhouse gases than livestock, according to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization.

The chance of contracting diseases from eating insects is significantly less than with meat consumption, added Dicke. That’s because insects are not as closely related to humans as are warm-blooded mammals, so the probability of disease transmission is low.


Guests at the Dutch Embassy snacked on a few bug bites, including cicadas.
Insect farming may sound like a bizarre pastime, but soon it may become a modern-day necessity. According to Dicke, 70 percent of agriculture land is being used for livestock, with the demand continually increasing and space shrinking.

Enter insect farming.

Insects enjoy being together in greater densities than livestock do, and farmers can produce more insects than livestock at a faster rate. As a result, Dicke and the other experts believe it is an industry with definite possibilities.


Daniella Martin of GirlMeetsBug.com prepares the asparagus to be paired with the sautéed cicadas.
“As the world’s population continues to grow and our natural resources and land available for farming decrease, we must find alternative food sources,” said Dutch Ambassador Rudolf Bekink. “Insects could provide a nutritional alternative for people without the massive use of natural resources."

They may be good for the earth, but do bugs actually taste good? Of course, it depends on the person eating them, but plenty of people around the world see insects not only as a sustainable food source, but a delectable one as well.


Alida Maandag, left, prepares the guacamole to be paired with crickets as her husband, entomologist Marcel Dicke, empties chopped mealworms into pancake batter.
Daniella Martin, bug blogger for the Huffington Post and host of the insect cooking and travel website GirlMeetsBug.com, was first attracted to entomophagy during anthropological studies in Mexico, where she purchased a bag of chapulines, or fried grasshoppers, from a street vendor.
“All of the sudden a bunch of kids surrounded my table and started grabbing the grasshoppers out of the bag and eating them,” she recalled.

While Martin said she was exactly bowled over by the taste of the chapulines, the kids obviously liked them. And thus her fascination with insect cuisine began.

“This just isn’t some weird, antiquated practice,” said Martin.

To prove that point, guests got to sample the insects for themselves. Mealworms, crickets and cicadas were on the menu, along with a raisin-mealworm pancake.

Michael Raupp, professor of entomology at the University of Maryland, suggested that guests who were new to insect snacking start with the mealworms.

“Mealworms are the best starter bug because they have a nice, nutty flavor,” he said.


Crickets are paired with guacamole.
However, the experts warned that you shouldn’t just go willy-nilly eating any bug that flies (or crawls) your way.

Though Raupp prefers to eat cicadas uncooked, he cautioned that not all bugs are edible. For those interested in cooking up a few insects at the next family barbecue, Dicke has co-written an insect cookbook called “Het Insectenkookboek,” the English version of which is scheduled to be released in spring 2014.

So if eating insects is good for the planet and for you — and actually tastes (relatively) good — why has the trend not taken off in the United States as it has in other countries
Dicke attributes this lack of insect popularity to a class stigma, as people with high living standards typically don’t rely on alternative food sources such as insects and therefore equate eating insects to barbarism.


Alida Maandag samples a tortilla chip topped with guacamole and a cricket.
But now, societies are eating insects simply because they like the taste — not because bugs are survival necessities. According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, more than 2 billion people make roughly 1,900 different insect species parts of their daily diets.

And the trend is slowly creeping its way to the United States. Chapul Edible Insect Bars, founded by native Coloradoan Pat Crowley, offer cricket protein bars in three varieties, each of which was featured at the embassy discussion.

Still not convinced? Well, you may be consuming insects without even knowing it. Currently, the Food and Drug Administration allows specified insect and insect-part amounts to be in your orange juice, canned fruits, peanut butter and noodle products, just to name a few products. Each person consumes about 500 grams of insects per year, said Dicke.

Kylee Zabel is an editorial intern for the Diplomatic Pouch.

UN Prevention Web: Jamaicans need to be more aware of climate change

http://www.preventionweb.net/english/professional/news/v.php?id=34242

Jamaicans need to be more aware of climate change - Minister

Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, has emphasised the need to increase climate change awareness among Jamaicans, noting that the issue is “everybody’s business. ”

Mr. Pickersgill said tackling the effects of climate change on Jamaica will require a communal approach, “as we will all be affected. ”

The Minister was speaking at the launch of a special video feature entitled: ‘Climate Change and its Impact on Jamaican Farmers’, held at the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), in Kingston, on July 31.

“(This approach) must entail co-operation, communication and consistency of effort from everyone. We cannot allow progress toward the Vision 2030 goals to be derailed by climate change related impacts,” he argued.

The Minister lamented that the impact of climate change on a small island such as Jamaica can have significant repercussions on its economic and social viability. He noted that the weather phenomenon impacts health, natural resources, infrastructure as well as access to water and food security.

“The impacts are likely to continue to greatly hinder Jamaica in its debt repayment efforts, while the economic cost of climate related impacts will continue to increase,” he noted.

Mr. Pickersgill, therefore, commended the PIOJ and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for its work in developing the educational video, which aims to increase public awareness on the topic.

The video, which was produced by the Jamaica Information Service (JIS), will be aired on over seven stations, including TVJ, CVM TV, JNN, PBCJ and Love TV, as well as featured in JIS’ Jamaica Magazine programme.

It shows interviews conducted with farmers in the Bog Hole community of Clarendon, who have been adversely affected by long periods of drought as well as periods of flooding, caused by climate change.

Mr. Pickersgill said the video is a timely reminder that all Jamaicans must find new and innovative ways to lessen the impact of climate change on the environment.

For his part, Pilot Programme for Climate Change Resilience (PPCR) Focal Point Manager, PIOJ, Hopeton Peterson, said the video has been produced within the context of the implementation of the PPCR.

The PPCR is a global project aimed at improving the ability of vulnerable countries like Jamaica to withstand “the shocks and stresses” of climate change.

The programme provides technical assistance and investments to support countries’ efforts to integrate climate risk and resilience into core development planning and implementation. Jamaica is one of six countries in the Caribbean benefiting from the PPCR.

Mr. Peterson informed that so far in Jamaica, the project has supported the development of a strategic programme for climate resilience, which entails three main components.

These include: improving climate data and information management; mainstreaming climate change adaptation in the local sectoral and national plans and implementing integrated adaptation strategies in the Rio Minho basin in Clarendon; and providing financing mechanisms for sustained adaptation initiatives by the public and private sectors and community-based organisations.

CONTACT: ATHALIAH REYNOLDS-BAKER

Dorsainvil Foundation. BEMA support their family legacy of providing healthcare and health services to the region\department of Arcahaie, Haiti.

Dorsainvil Foundation is dedicated to the medical concerns of the Haitian People.
MISSION:
The vision of Dorsainvil Foundation is to expand the medical mission and the small functional health facility, to a fully equipped hospital and outpatient center with a compassionate staff, accepting everyone in need of services, regardless of their social status.
The commitment of Dorsainvil Foundation is to promote healthcare and to encourage health prevention as well as providing treatment to the disenfranchised in the region. The foundation hopes to enrich the people's lives by helping them focus on the importance of proper nutrition, exercise, modified lifestyle and good health. This would be achieve by providing adequate educational tools to the population.
Today's diseases are affecting so many people including babies, children, parents and grandparents. By providing the people with the information they need to make better decisions, the death rate itself could be reduce tremendously. Let's work together for a better tomorrow.
In 1995, Pierre and Josephine Dorsainvil left their home in Long Island, New York to visit their native country of Haiti. Pierre Dorsainvil, 69, and his wife, Josephine, 62, had just finished building a vacation home in the small town of Arcahaie, Haiti, where both were born, raised, met and were married. During their visit four armed individuals entered and ransacked Pierre and Josephine Dorsainvil's home in Arcahaie, Haiti. The New York residents, who were in their homeland for a brief vacation, were shot and killed. Their five children survived them, a son and four daughters.
The Dorsainvil family had become an American success. The oldest son, Pierre had just graduated from medical school, St. George’s University. His younger sisters Edwige and Bobbie were also successful in business and had families of their own. The youngest girls, twins, Cynthia and Dolores, were both attending college and were looking ahead to a bright future.
On the morning of June 30, 1995, exactly one week after Pierre graduated from medical school, everything would change. Although the details have never been clear the local authorities state their house was attacked by a gang of brutal thieves. With robbery as a motive they mercilessly shot Josephine, killing her instantly.  Pierre Sr. suffered a gunshot wound to his leg while the couple’s maid, seventeen year old Elemene was wounded four times. The violence was swift and horrible, especially since the vacationers were unarmed.
Pierre, the son, had to break the devastating news to his sisters.  Numb with grief, they also had to endure the fact that the killers had escaped exact identification.  Although police had an idea of who the suspects were, no one would ever be brought to justice. As a newly credentialed physician, Pierre was aware of an additional irony. Had his father been in virtually any US hospital his non-lethal gunshot wound could have been treated and he would have been saved.  The reality was that for lack of a few dollars worth of a sterile saline IV solution, mostly unavailable in this third world nation, his father simply bled to death.  
In June 2000, while on a visit to Haiti and his parents’ home, Dr. Pierre Dorsainvil had a revelation. He would convert this vacation retreat to a different kind of haven. It would be a freestanding clinic. Now, he just had to make it happen. In June 2001, he established the Dorsainvil Foundation, a private, non-profit organization and opened a free medical clinic for the poor and needy in the Arcahaie home his parents loved. The name of the center, which is the only one of its kind within a 35-mile radius, is Complexe Medical Sainte Philomene De L'Arcahaie.  Currently, Pierre makes several trips a year to administer health care at the facility himself while the remainder of the year he relies on a limited staff who see patients twice a week.
The Dorsainvil Foundation stands as a testament to the good that can come from difficult times. Dr. Pierre Dorsainvil, along with friends, family, pharmaceutical reps, and health care providers have been able to have a significant impact on the people of Haiti. The Foundation hopes to continue this work for years to come.

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

U.S. National Interest: Water for the Poor Act of 2005

http://www.state.gov/e/oes/water/waterforthepoor/

Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005: Annual Report


Date: 07/30/2012 Description: Water in hands. © Getty ImagesThe Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act, which was signed into law by then-President Bush on December 1, 2005, makes access to safe water and sanitation for developing countries a specific policy objective of U.S. foreign assistance. It requires the Secretary of State, in consultation with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and other U.S. government agencies, to develop and implement a strategy “to provide affordable and equitable access to safe water and sanitation in developing countries” within the context of sound water resources management.
The Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act also requires the Secretary of State, in consultation with the USAID Administrator, to submit an annual report to Congress describing changes in the U.S. strategy and progress in achieving the objectives of the Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act. This annual report to Congress is available through the links below and marks the initial progress on a long-term process to develop and implement a strategy to strengthen U.S. efforts on international water issues. 



Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act: 2013 Report to Congress PDF (July 2013) 
Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act: 2012 Report to Congress PDF (Sept. 2012)
Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act: 2011 Report to Congress PDF (June 21, 2011)
Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act:
 2010 Report to Congress PDF (Aug. 13, 2010)
Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act:
 2009 Report to Congress PDF (Jun. 26, 2009)
Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act: 2008 Report to Congress PDF (Jun. 4, 2008)
Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act: 2007 Report to Congress PDF (Jun. 5, 2007) 
Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act: 2006 Report to Congress PDF (Jun. 1, 2006)
-- Report Annex A: Summary of U.S. Agency Missions and Capabilities in Water
-- Report Annex B: USAID Funding for Water
-- Report Annex C: Strategic Planning of USAID Water and Sanitation Activities in Africa
-- Report Annex D: Example Strategy -- ECO Asia
-- Report Annex E: Blue Revolution Initiative -- Strategic Framework for Asia and the Near East

Job Oppportunities: Various Locations (Pacific and Atlantic Coasts)

Key Requirements:
Department:
Department of the Navy
Agency:
U.S. Pacific Fleet, Commander in Chief
Open Period:
7/31/2013 to 8/9/2013
Who May Apply: 
Current Permanent Federal Employees serving under career or career conditional appointments in the competitive service employed by Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PHNSY&IMF), UIC 32253.
Location(s):

Salary:
$83,507.00 to $108,558.00
Series & Grade:
GS-0089-13/13
Position Information:
Full Time - Permanent
Control Number:
348385300
JOA Number:
NW30089-13-933283LQ650358
OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise - "To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan" - by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate care to Veterans? T
Department:
Department Of Veterans Affairs
Agency:
Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration
Open Period:
7/31/2013 to 8/6/2013
Who May Apply:
United States Citizens
Location(s):
New York, New York

Salary:
$109,022.00 - $141,726.00 / Per Year
Series & Grade:
GS-0089-14/14
Position Info:
Full Time - Permanent
Control Number:
348331400
JOA Number:
KL-13-EER-930770
Agency Logo
Salary will be increased by the applicable cost-of-living allowance (COLA), which is subject to change without notice. This position is located in the Emergency Planning Division (code 1130) at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PHNSY&IMF;). The incumbent will serve a
Department:
Department of the Navy
Agency:
U.S. Pacific Fleet, Commander in Chief
Open Period:
8/5/2013 to 8/14/2013
Who May Apply:
Current Permanent Federal Employees serving under career or career conditional a...
Location(s):
Pearl Harbor Naval Base, Oahu, Hawaii

Salary:
$70,225.00 - $91,291.00 / Per Year
Series & Grade:
GS-0089-12/12
Position Info:
Full Time - Permanent
Control Number:
348207000
JOA Number:
NW30089-12-931597LQ650411



Friday, July 26, 2013

Your community Program. Teens prepare for Emergencies

FYI…………Something for your community programs to consider with youth involvement.

Our teens are ready for a change, the responsibility to be placed in an independent leadership role.

We know that teens and young adults with support will accept and move forward with this type of training.

What about the individuals on the street corner with no guidance, will they accept, continue with the training, and become a vital resource for their community?  The added extra incentive for a source of income may help.

Let's give them all the chance to contribute to the resiliency and sustainability of our community.




Teenagers prepare for emergencies
July 25, 2013
·        
·        
·    FORT JACKSON, S.C. -- Ten Fort Jackson teenagers, ages 13-18, participated in a 20-hour Teen Community Emergency Response Team, or CERT, certificate course last week.
CERT was designed to train Americans to help themselves and their communities in the event of a widespread natural disaster. The course teaches basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, search and rescue, team organization and disaster medical operations.

The training prepares teenagers to assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. Teen CERT members also are encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community.

"The training is important for many reasons," said R.J. Frazier, Fort Jackson's all hazard emergency manager. "The primary concern is for our youth, giving back and providing educational tools for their future. During this session, they earned a training certification on how to support community volunteer efforts during disasters, but more so than anything, a keen insight of self-worth and accomplishment. They departed with a thorough understanding that no matter what profession they choose in life, they can always give back to the community."

Crystle Siegel, 18, said the training achieved that goal. "Many people don't know what to do in the aftermath of a natural disaster. It's great that we -- teens -- are learning how to assist our communities in emergencies," Siegel said.

Tristan Campos, 16, said the training was also fun.

"I didn't really expect to enjoy the training, but, I got a lot of great information, made some new friends, and learned how to help my community in the event of and emergency."

The course was hosted by the Fort Jackson Emergency Management Office, Army Community Services, Operation Military Kids/Clemson University and the American Red Cross.

Thursday, July 25, 2013

A New Educational 'Model'. Emergency Management Training, and International Service

bEMA 

"Leaders don't force people to follow, they invite them on a journey" - Charles S Lauer

From: BEMA - Black Emergency Managers Association [mailto:bema@blackemergmanagersassociation.org]
Sent: Thursday, July 25, 2013 7:16 PM
Subject: A New Educational 'Model'. Emergency Management Training, and International Service

Louis:

I’m smiling because I may have opened a can of worms.

Being on the OUTSIDE of the academic educational system (lack of PhD credentials), to propose this model of alternative education with local, national, and international ramifications require our illustrious members with these credentials to take this premise\theory and implement or test this model.

Something like this would never be applied or implemented in a quick and ‘dirty’ fashion, but under strict academic scrutiny, and record keeping.  I don’t think anyone wants to take on the burden because it’s……so ‘out of the box’.

With our urban and inner city youths, that have not achieved the outstanding grades within the current educational model nor the awards, scholarships, and financial assistance to pursue even a complete high school education.  These are the individuals that this type of model would address.  Those individual on the corner, waking up every day in search of a job, meaning, future, and hope in life needing something that would require a great change in their current existence to push them to new heights that we can only imagine.

We always forget these individual except when they cause a problem and are noticed in their community by law enforcement, and are about to or are within the youth criminal and social system or institution.  The current educational models do not appeal to them.  Resistance is high.

I remember the legal system would give individuals a choice at one time, jail or the military.  Many picked the military and this brought about changes both socially and financially to the individual, their families, and their communities.

With the elimination of the draft we’ve lost an avenue to exponentially move members of our community further up social and financial status.

The current models will not work.  Both you (maybe) and I were rebellious  when we were young.  But not this rebellious to totally have our rebellious nature make an impression of others that reflect on our family, friends, local and national community.

Emergency management education for the individual, family, local and national community can now propel these individual to find a calling by giving them an alternate form of education, providing a hands-on practical experience outside of the U.S. living on a local country economy while getting a small stipend from the Peace Corp or other international organization.  18-25 year-olds in the FEMA Corp receive a small salary, same amount could suffice. 

But who are those individuals within the FEMA Corp?  Are they the at risk youths mentioned above?  Ask, find out!

…..to be continued


Louis will only give a little bit to spark the interest.  If the interest is there with others in replies I’ll continue.  Don’t want to write a whole treatise on the subject of a ‘NEW MODEL’ to change urban and inner city communities.

Charles



From: Louis (SEA) []
Sent: Thursday, July 25, 2013 5:16 PM
To: BEMA@BlackEmergManagersAssociation.org
Subject: RE: Water & Food, most vital resources: Malnutrition Killing Children in Cameroon

With little or no effort we could accomplish what the “Back to Africa” moment could only dream of by getting our youth to embrace the idea of being shipped out of here back home…

From: BEMA - Black Emergency Managers Association [mailto:bema@blackemergmanagersassociation.org]
Sent: Thursday, July 25, 2013 9:32 AM
To: BEMA - Black Emergency Managers Association
Subject: RE: Water & Food, most vital resources: Malnutrition Killing Children in Cameroon

Rick, I’ve stripped off your email information. Fantastic idea.  

Taking ‘out-of-the-box’ thinking even further.

All the FEMA EMI training courses probably add up to a two-year associates degree.  Only costs are time, and conversion of the CEU units to a two or four year college\university.  This is the essence of what BEMA has been advocating, especially for disadvantaged, African-American and other communities.

For funding?  Will colleges and universities accept the CEU conversion, and promote the PEACE CORP, or other humanitarian aid international programs to get our youths to those locations. 

Safety?  If safety is a concern are we safe in our own communities here in the U.S.?   You and I both know that we and other ex-military have a greater appreciation for ‘the world’, and coming home.  There is a difference in reading or seeing things in the newspapers on the hardship and suffering of others in other countries then being there.

Imagine the changes in the world of taking urban, inner city youths with EM training skills TOTALLY out of their environment?  This would be practicing SERVICE.

The changes and improvements we could make to the world in the ‘whole world community’.

ALL WE NEED ARE TWO educational institutions to implement, and the changes will start one person, one family, and one community at time.

Charles



From: Rick's GMail []
Sent: Thursday, July 25, 2013 6:15 AM
To: <BEMA@BlackEmergManagersAssociation.org>
Subject: Re: Water & Food, most vital resources: Malnutrition Killing Children in Cameroon

Charles,
I really enjoy being included on your email list.  Today's message brought out a great point worth repeating, and I had to comment!
Imagine the powerful impact 50 kids could make if we could get them through a 2 year emergency management certification program with a bit of intern time, and then get them into the Peace Corps.  Everyone would win!
Imagine how this would magnify if we did this every year.  
I really think you are on to something with this concept.  The question now is how do we find funding to help an effort like this.
Anyway, thanks again and keep the mail coming!
Rick Sacca
Shizuoka, Japan

Sent from my iPad

On Jul 25, 2013, at 18:46, "BEMA - Black Emergency Managers Association" <bema@blackemergmanagersassociation.org> wrote:
Rodney:

Going thru my nightly\morning international SITREPS, came across this article on Cameroon.

I know your daughter is there with the Peace Corp and is probably encountering many instances of this in her assignment.  She may have ran into the same instances during her tour of Kenya.

From an EM standpoint communities even within the U.S. should be planning for water and food disruptions.  Prices are so high in the markets, even corporations are starting to promote farmers markets on their premises for their employees.

As with water distribution, food distribution\initiatives along the same line as medicine points of distribution (POD) for pandemics.  I know that China supplies major food staples, and other food items to many African and Middle East nations with many of their products tainted with toxic chemicals.

I know she can reach out to you if she needs any advice.  Let me know if you’d like  ‘reach back’ to me.  Increasing our presence in the United Nations, with some contacts in Cameroon.  I can increase the message traffic on how they’re addressing this and other issues.

Don’t forget to start practicing your French if you’re going to visit.  Hey, I can only do the military versions of any language. 

If only the rules would change for entrance, acceptance, and country assignments for U.S. students to serve in the Peace Corp.  With emergency management training, and their major studies we could send many from the urban and inner city areas to other countries to get the experience.  Imagine what 50 students from every state or HBCU like your daughter serve.  Wow.

She’ll come back ready for a UN, or Department of State post.

Peace.

Charles


At the Garoua Regional Hospital’s Paediatric Feeding Centre in northern Cameroon, Aicha Ahidjo* is relieved to hear that her one-year-old son will survive. The child was suffering from chronic malnutrition, and other children have died of it. It has cost Ahidjo a lot to get her son Ahmadou here. ... MORE > >
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Malnutrition Killing Children in Cameroon

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A nutritionist assesses the health of a child: red indicates severe malnutrition. Malnutrition has become a growing concern in northern Cameroon. Credit:Kristin Palitza/IPS
YAOUNDE, Jul 22 2013 (IPS) - At the Garoua Regional Hospital’s Paediatric Feeding Centre in northern Cameroon, Aicha Ahidjo* is relieved to hear that her one-year-old son will survive. The child was suffering from chronic malnutrition, and other children have died of it.
It has cost Ahidjo a lot to get her son Ahmadou here. Ahmadou showed symptoms of swollen feet and dry and thinning hair. The 30-year-old mother was forced to defy her husband and bring their son to hospital. The child had developed Kwashiorkor as a result of severe protein deficiency.
“Some months after the birth of the child, I fell pregnant again,” Ahidjo, who is six months pregnant, tells IPS.
“Infant malnutrition is also due to the fact that very few infants are breastfed exclusively for the first six months after birth,." -- Director of Health Promotion in the Ministry of Health Dr. Sa’a
“I had to wean him, but his father didn’t want me to give him infant formula. He discouraged me from continuing to breastfeed the child and told me to feed him maize porridge and rock salt.” She was powerless to refuse her husband.
“I gave in, but after some time I noticed that the child was tired and his skin was thinning. I spoke to my mother who told me that these were signs of malnutrition,” she explains.
“Against my husband’s advice, I brought the child to hospital. The doctors here told me that I arrived just in time. Thank God.”
Ahmadou is not the only child at the hospital suffering from malnutrition.
In June, the centre’s medical staff registered 31 malnourished children. Six died, one recovered and 21 were transferred to other hospitals. The remaining three children, including Ahmadou, stayed at the hospital for treatment.
Six-year-old Haouwa Aboui* was the last child to die at this centre in June. Her 60-year-old grandmother, Maimouna Aboui*, sits in front of their home, fatigued and despondent.
“There are 16 of us living in this hut and there is not enough food. The little one could not bear the starvation,” Aboui tells IPS. “I was advised to give her water with sugar to give her energy. Her mother and I did that for two weeks. She died the day after we arrived at the hospital.”
According to the most recent study by the National Institute of Statistics (NIS), published in October 2011, 33 percent of under-fives in Cameroon suffer from chronic malnutrition and 14 percent of them are severely malnourished.
The community health division in the Ministry of Public Health believes that malnutrition is closely linked to Cameroon’s complex climate. In parts of the Adamawa, North and Far North Regions – a dry and semi-arid zone – nutritional deterioration is present among a large proportion of Cameroonian children and refugees, according to the ministry.
In addition, the massive displacement of Chadian and Central African Republic refugees has added to the growing number of people unable to access food.
The Far North and North Regions have the highest rate of infant malnutrition in the country because of a lack of food during the lean season, which lasts from mid-June to the end of August. Another contributing factor is the poor variety of foods consumed by the population, such as millet and sorghum.
However, malnutrition is prevalent throughout the country, says Ines Lezama, a nutrition specialist at the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Cameroon.
Celine Essengue, a member of local NGO Enfants Cameroun, gave IPS her assessment of the situation: “Cameroon is known to be a food-sufficient country. This means that the country doesn’t need to import food as it produces enough to feed its population. Poverty is preventing the Cameroonian people from having access to a varied and balanced diet.”
Related IPS Articles
·         Tackle Malnutrition Now
According to NIS, 44 percent of children suffering from chronic malnutrition in the Central African Economic and Monetary Community live in Cameroon.
UNICEF estimates that 57,616 children under the age of five are at risk of severe acute malnutrition in the North and Far North regions of the country, and that 145,000 children under the age of five will have stunted growth.
Director of health promotion in the Ministry of Health, known only as Dr. Sa’a, told journalists at a recent briefing that “obesity is also a sign of malnutrition. Infant malnutrition is also due to the fact that very few infants are breastfed exclusively for the first six months after birth.”
UNICEF, in conjunction with the government, works in 19 feeding centres in order to prevent complications.
Dr. Joel Ekobena, a paediatrician at the Garoua district hospital, explains to IPS that they are increasingly working on prevention.
“We educate mothers to recognise the first signs of malnutrition and to take their children as soon as possible for a check-up.”
But access to healthcare also poses a problem: 23 out of 43 health districts in the North and Far North of the country are short of qualified personnel. According to NIS, the two regions have 92 doctors for an overall population of 5.5 million inhabitants.
*Names changed to protect their identity.



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