"Addressing child undernutrition is paving the way to a world where we can ensure peace and security, good health and well-being for all of society. Addressing child undernutrition is to ensure that the earth will always have people. Addressing child undernutrition is about demonstrating that people remain at the centre of all actions. Addressing child malnutrition is an expression of our humanity. Tackling child malnutrition is about ensuring a better future for African society as a whole. But are we all aware of this?

This paragraph concludes the report on child malnutrition presented by the Recover Foundation, Hospitals for Africa, coinciding with World Africa Day on 25 May. In a context in which three million children die every year in Africa due to malnutrition, the Recover Foundation wishes to highlight the essential role played by programmes such as NUTRI-.m to improve the lives of thousands of people every year in the African continent.

NUTRI-m is the project that the Recover Foundation has been running since 2021 to help alleviate the high rates of child malnutrition in Sub-Saharan Africa. In countries such as Cameroon, where the NUTRI-malarming figures have been found in some communities in the West and East, with data that far exceeds the official average for the country (see detail at Data from the report).

Fundación Recover's programme is distinguished by its comprehensive approach, combining medical treatment, nutritional reinforcement and family training. In addition, through visits to remote communities, the NUTRI-m reaches the most vulnerable areas, raising awareness among families and providing medical and nutritional care.

NUTRI-m also has an innovative approach: it uses digital tools to improve the management of malnutrition. Children's data is recorded in a software programme based on World Health Organisation indicators, which helps to monitor and manage children's nutritional status. In addition, SMS messages are sent to parents to remind them of appointments and provide advice on child hygiene and nutrition.

The Recover Foundation also organises workshops for families, training them in the early detection of malnutrition and in improving children's diets with local products. This participatory and educational approach is fundamental to ensure the sustainability of the results obtained.

Data from the report

Programme coverage:

• Since its launch in 2021, the NUTRI-m programme has registered nearly 4,000 children in 11 health centres in Cameroon and Côte d'Ivoire.

Initial nutritional status:

• Of the total number of children registered, Fundación Recover found that 38% were malnourished: 10% were acutely malnourished and 28% were chronically malnourished.
• In some of the most disadvantaged rural communities in the East and West, where Fundación Recover works, alarming rates of malnutrition have been found: up to 48% in the West and 56% in the East. This figure far exceeds the national average, which is 32% for the country and 36% in the extreme north.

Notable improvements in health:

Despite the difficulties of continuous monitoring of children, because parents do not systematically attend check-ups, the project has achieved a remarkable improvement in this population:

• More than half of the children in follow-up (i.e. those who had at least a second check-up) improved their nutritional status thanks to NUTRI-m.
• 62% of the children improved their weight index, 55% their weight/height index, 60% their height index and 54% their body mass index.

A significant improvement in household dietary diversity has also been detected through health education provided to parents in awareness-raising workshops and by SMS messages.

Here you can access the full report. And you can also find it here in French.