Corporate giving for Severe Acute Malnutrition in Sri Lanka

With the support of the Ministry of Health & Family Health Bureau , Medical Officers of Health (MOHs) and Public Health Midwives (PHM s) children with severe acute malnutrition ( SAM ) in

Nuwara Eliya district were identified in 2022/2023. The Total number of under-five SAM children in the entire district were six hundred and forty five ( 645 ). To mitigate the acute crisis with roaring inflation and rising food insecurity of these underprivileged communities, food packs with high density energy food items were distributed over a six months period.

RAISE SRI LANKA with the support of our generous donors partnered with Sri Lanka College of Pediatricians to avail this benefit for 150 families of children with SAM in Maskeliya,

Bogawantalawa and Ambagamuwa MOH areas in Nuwara Eliya district and here is the progress reported as per the doctors.

* Ninety four percent (94%) of the SAM population have made an improvement at the end of six months.

* Fourteen percent (14%) of the SAM children have moved to normal weight centiles ranges.

* Thirty eight percent (38%) have moved to a less severe form of malnutrition called Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM).

* Forty eight (48%) showed some improvement in weight gain, however remained in the SAM category with regard to weight for height classification.

* 6% did not show any significant improvement and the majority of children in this group were having concurrent other chronic illnesses such as cerebral palsy, congenital heart diseases and development delay with feeding issues hindering their growth.

We all made an EFFORT to make a difference! Food Packs were distributed with ground support of Sri Lanka Red Cross to the outreach nutrition clinics held closer to their homes . PHMs monitored the growth of children's weight and height monthly. Sri Lanka College of Pediatricians monitored the progress of nutritional status of these children and the program has contributed to significant improvement in nutritional status of these children. And all of you donated through various means to make this project a success. We might not have solved a problem in full but it has definitely been PROGRESS. And that's always a good thing So thank you everyone for supporting Feed a Child Sri Lanka in 2022/2023.