Tackling malnutrition through community care
How early screening and community-based care are helping children in Bombali recover from malnutrition
In a district where many infants are at risk of poor growth due to limited access to nutritious food, this simple act of monitoring becomes a lifeline ensuring that children like Isatu receive timely care and support to stay healthy.
Malnutrition continues to pose a profound and long‑term threat to the health, development, and future productivity of children in Sierra Leone with 26 per cent of children under-five stunted and 5 per cent too thin and small in relation to their ages. This situation highlights the urgent need for sustained, coordinated efforts to improve nutrition, strengthen health systems so that every child can survive and thrive.
Among other things, UNICEF Sierra Leone partners with the Government of Sierra Leone to establish in-patient facility for treatment of severely malnourished children and out-patient therapeutic feeding services for moderately malnourished to tackle the problem.
Through timely intervention and nutrition support, baby Isatu and thousands of under-five children across Sierra Leone have regained their health, became stronger and are thriving with the priceless efforts of dedicated health workers, families and community care.
