MINISTRY OF HEALTH UNVEILS MASS NUTRITION SCREENING IN KIRYANDONGO
Samalie Namukose Assistant Commissioner for Nutrition says screening exercise is being carried out with support from UNICEF Uganda, UNHCR Uganda and WHO Uganda, at a time when limited humanitarian funding has affected access to food, nutrition services and healthcare in refugee settlements.
Felix Oketcho
By Our Reporter
Ministry of Health has launches mass nutrition screening campaign in Kiryandongo District to help detect malnutrition early among children, especially in refugee-hosting communities.
Malnutrition in Uganda is a critical public health issue, with over one-third of children under five (approx. 2.4 million) experiencing stunted growth and 268,000 suffering from acute wasting. Driven by poverty, poor diet quality, and infections, this largely affects rural areas, particularly Karamoja, reducing child survival and causing irreversible development damage.
Samalie Namukose Assistant Commissioner for Nutrition says screening exercise is being carried out with support from UNICEF Uganda, UNHCR Uganda and WHO Uganda, at a time when limited humanitarian funding has affected access to food, nutrition services and healthcare in refugee settlements.
She said only 48% of severely malnourished children in these communities are currently receiving treatment, leaving many at risk.
Namukose further said during the campaign, health teams will. provide other services including Vitamin A supplements, deworming, immunisation and referrals for children who need further treatment.
The initiative will help more children get early care and improve their chances of recovery. Caregivers have been encouraged to take their children for screening.
Malnutrition in Uganda is a significant public health issue, characterized by a triple burden of undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and rising overnutrition, with approximately 26% of children under 5 stunted and 10% underweight.
