Treat Childhood Malnutrition in DR Congo

In DR Congo, children under the age of five are 18% more likely to die from complicated severe acute malnutrition than the rest of the world population. Malnutrition is both a primary and a secondary cause of death, given that it complicates the cases of children who are admitted to the hospital for other diagnoses. Within the CEUM healthcare system, 3,951 children between the ages of six months and five years were diagnosed with SAM in 2020.

Our goal is to reduce the childhood mortality rate from 18% to 10% within the first year, and down to 5% by the second year. A second phase of expanding to other health zones (Loko, Wasolo, Bogose Nubea) will be implemented after careful evaluation of the center in Karawa.

Paul Carlson Partnership is coming alongside our Congolese partners in addressing severe acute childhood malnutrition in their communities. Together, we have identified three main levels to prevent, educate, and treat cases of severe acute malnutrition:

• Village level: $25 supports five children. Our partners are identifying at-risk children and providing supplemental feeds and nutritional education to families.
• Health Center Clinic level: $75 helps five children. Our partners are identifying acutely malnourished children, managing uncomplicated cases, and referring complicated cases to the stabilization center.
• Stabilization Center level: $175 helps five children. Receive and stabilize children with complicated severe acute malnutrition and refer stabilized patients back to clinics for 8-10 weeks of therapy.

With your financial support, our partners can use the new Karawa Stabilization Center, order medical supplies, nutritional food, and proper equipment, as well as expand training to more hospitals and health centers using the new malnutrition curriculum developed by the PCP Medical Ambassadors and CEUM medical leaders.

Will you join us in responding to the crisis of childhood malnutrition in DR Congo?