Social Issue

The child malnutrition rate in Haiti is alarming. In addition to being the Latin American country with the highest number of deaths of children under the age of five, in the recent history of the country, a terrible 10% of children have died due to malnutrition. More than half of the infant deaths are related to the lack of adequate food and the lack of medical and nutritional assistance. In Haiti, food insecurity reaches 40% of the Haitian homes, 65% of the children suffer anaemia, and 32% present delays in their development (data from UNESCO 2004).

Our Response

The nutritional recovery programme for patients at Saint Damien Hospital distinguishes between chronic and acute malnutrition. It is based on three data: weight in relation to height, weight in relation to age and height in relation to age, as well as the body mass index in children from two years of age.

The programme is divided into two phases:

• Phase 1: Aimed at children who are below 70% of the average weight that corresponds to their height. At the time of admission, they receive an intensive diet using TMP / SMX, mebendazole, folic acid, and zinc cream. They are also given therapeutic F-75 milk.
• Phase 2: Aimed at children who have gained weight until they reach at least 80% of the average corresponding to their height. They are then supplied with therapeutic multivitamin milk F-100 (energy milk fortified with a mixture of vitamins and minerals that is designed to counteract the effects of malnutrition).

Weekly consultations are held to monitor children’s progress. The high-risk population, which represents a quarter of the programme participants, is tested for HIV. Children under one year of age receive Isomil soy milk every four hours, as long as they do not have allergies.

Expected Social Impact

73 Haitian infants and children in poor health due to malnutrition have benefited from the project. In addition, the capital contributed indirectly affects the families of the minors affected.