At least 50 cases of malnutrition among children were registered during a health medical camp in Ntungamo district. The camp was held on Saturday at Rushooka Parish in Rubaare Sub County and was organised by the Archdiocese of Mbarara Development Association-AMDA.
Dr. Crescent Tumuhaise, the Head of Medics at the medical camp, said that the camp was treating all ailments, however, the majority of the children attended were diagnosed with acute malnutrition, with an average of 20 having mild malnutrition.
He said that most of them were referred to other facilities for further care.
Naome Kabasharira, the Member of Parliament for Rushenyi County, said that limited access to information on nutrition coupled with parental ignorance, are some of the factors fuelling rising cases of malnutrition in the district.
According to Kabasharira, many families are now selling all their harvests to generate income. She added that Ntungamo district is facing a shortage of land to grow nutritious foods like millet due to the increasing population.
Twesigye Nesiterio, the Ntungamo District Health Educator, confirmed the high malnutrition cases in Ntungamo. However, he said that they have started implementing the district chairperson’s directive to have demonstration gardens at Health centres.
He explained that the gardens would be used to educate mothers about the appropriate foods to feed their children.
He advised parents not to sell all of their crops but rather store some to feed their children.
AMDA leaders said that the camp’s overwhelming numbers indicated an urgent need for government intervention in health centres, including providing sufficient drugs and medical equipment.
