Cash transfers continue to improve child nutrition in Manono
UNICEF is helping families with children who suffer from severe acute malnutrition to improve food diversity to combat malnutrition.
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When Solange’s little girl was 2 years old and suffering from severe acute malnutrition, she decided to take the situation in hand, as her husband did not have a regular source of income. Thanks to UNICEF cash transfers, Solange began her own business. « I decided to raise goats», said the mom.
« With advice from community outreach workers, I used some of the money to buy two goats», explained Solange who is now earning 50,000 congolese francs a month. With that money, she buys nutritious food to prepare balanced meals for her family. « I know my children will no longer go hungry and if they get sick, I can sell a goat », says Solange.
When a child is diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition at a Manono health clinic in the province of Tanganyika, the family is registered and receives a mobile phone with a SIM card as well as ready-to-use therapeutic food. The mobile phone allows the family to withdraw 140,000 congolese francs a month from a mobile operator for six months.
When Jacqueline received her first cash transfers, she decided to produce and sell a traditional drink, raise livestock and develop a piece of land. These activities now allow her to earn 120,000 congolese francs and to provide a balanced diet for Jean-Médard who suffered from severe acute malnutrition, as well as for nine other children in her care.
Like Solange and Jacqueline, around 1,400 families have received mobile cash transfers, allowing them to continue to improve their children’s nutrition. Families learn best diet practices and how to prepare balanced meals with local foods. They are also encouraged to come up with income generating activities to continue to fight malnutrition.
The « Cash for Nutrition » program, with German cooperation, helps families who have children suffering from acute malnutrition. With mobile cash transfers, UNICEF encourages mothers to become empowered and to improve dietary diversity in families.
