Even before stepping into the Kiomboi Therapeutic Feeding Unit in Tanzania's Iramba district, the sounds of infants crying echo through the air. Here, Action Against Hunger plays a crucial role in aiding severely ill children, battling malnutrition, fever, malaria, and other complications. Dr. Salma Mahayu, along with a dedicated team of three doctors and four nurses, spearheads patient care, emphasizing education on health and nutrition for families.
Established in 2021, the unit aims to make essential health and nutrition services more accessible to the local population of Iramba, sparing families the arduous journey to a regional hospital over 60 miles away. Dr. Salma and her team have treated over 340 children, combating severe acute malnutrition and fostering awareness about malnutrition causes and treatment, dispelling lingering beliefs in witchcraft.
Before the Therapeutic Feeding Unit, traditional beliefs tied childhood illness to witchcraft, deterring families from seeking medical help until children were severely malnourished. Action Against Hunger's efforts, including training community health volunteers and local leaders, have successfully shifted perceptions, leading to increased admissions and improved follow-up care.
Despite their impact, the unit faces challenges in maintaining adequate supplies, particularly special milk formulas, rehydration salts, and therapeutic foods. Dr. Salma urges government support to meet the rising demand for treatment.
The unit admits up to five children for inpatient care weekly, supporting around 10 children on an outpatient basis. To extend their outreach, the hospital staff seeks increased financial support for community-based programs. Kundi Kija, a mother from a distant village, recounts her experience, highlighting the importance of exclusive breastfeeding and the knowledge gained during her child's treatment.
The center serves as a hub for mothers to learn about healthy diets, breastfeeding, and overall well-being, with health workers delivering these messages in the community. Dr. Salma advocates for additional financial backing to empower health workers to conduct more visits in rural areas, educating communities about local foods and preventive measures against malnutrition, envisioning a hunger-free district.