By Simbarashe L. Manyeruke | Volunteer Writer
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), good nutrition, defined as an adequate and well-balanced diet, is the mainstay of good health. On the other hand, WHO warns that poor nutrition can lead to reduced immunity to diseases and increase vulnerability to infections. And it is on this basis that the Kudvumisa Foundation was recently in the communities of Maphiveni, Shewula and Vuvulane Section 19 to distribute food hampers to patients.
Kudvumisa, through its Community Health Intervention Program for eSwatini (CHIPS) works in the remote areas of Lubombo(eSwatini) where the majority of people are very poor living far below the poverty datum line. The situation for many is so dire to the extent that there is no guarantee for the next meal. And if one is lucky to get a meal it is hardly a balanced diet but just something to ensure survival.
Now when you combine poor nutrition, poor health and lack of medication the situation becomes quite dreadful for the patient. But thanks to CHIPS and its partners the people of Lubombo have access to good health care despite living in marginalized and difficult to reach villages. With the medical challenges taken care of by CHIPS it is the lack of a good diet that tends to slow down the patient progress towards regaining their full fitness.
In September together with their partners, Kudvumisa visited three communities and donated food packs to seven struggling families. Some of the beneficiaries happen to be CHIPS’ patients while others are people that the team found bedridden and unable to help themselves. The hampers valued at about $USD15.00 each included beans, maize meal, bread, fish, sugar, tea leaves, candles, matches, soap, cooking oil, soup powder and salt.
According to Pastor Bheki from CHIPS' pastoral care unit, the gesture was well received by the patients and care givers. He highlighted that the beneficiaries are very grateful to Kudvumisa and its partners for coming to their rescue at a time when they were famishing with no one to cry to. Pastor Bheki also emphasized that the food packs will go a long way in helping the patients in their nutrition requirements. “Some recipients are HIV positive while some are suffering from other illnesses. The food parcels will help address the challenge of malnutrition because most these people have no source of income.”
In addition to the groceries, the patients received a blanket each, a gift that will go a long way in helping them keep warm in Eswatini’s volatile weather patterns where night temperatures can plummet to below 50°F.
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