Nutrition Education prevents Mulnutrition in Adjumani District

Nyan Deng Kachol is a 30 year old woman and mother of five children. She resides in the Ayllo II refugee settlement. She has been in Uganda for 10 years now.

Nyan Deng  Kachol with her 4 daughters and baby boy.

Nyan Deng Kachol is among the mothers whose children benefit from the Nutrition project and food diversification in Adjumani District.

Nyan Deng Kachola’s story –

I came to Uganda during the insurgency in South Sudan, my husband went back to South Sudan after he realized we can not take care of the children if he has no job.  However our country is not doing well.  My Husband told me he has not gotten any salary for 7 months now. In the settlement we depend on food rations given to us by World food program with my family of nine, I receive 2 Kilograms of maize and 3 kilograms of beans.

This was not the case 2 years ago but things have changed and the number of South Sudan refugees and other refugees in Uganda continues to grow. As a refugee, I have no land to farm but I have a small area around my homestead that government allocated to me for back yard farming.  I did not utilize it well before, but now through the Amref School feeding project my children were taught to carry out back yard farming both in school and at home. In the rainy season we are able to plant some vegetables and maize to supplement our food rations .,“ I am happy  too that my children get  a meal of porridge at school every day  and this has kept them well  and in school” she said

Nyan deng Kachol with her youngest daughter in their backyard vegetable garden

I have just given birth to my baby boy, he looks strong and healthy because I was able to get nutritious food during pregnancy following the information on Nutrition my children shared with me.

Nyan Deng Kachola says one difference she has observed between her children now is that since the feeding program started and the gardening at home they are happier and healthier.  My baby has is well breast fed and the food demonstration sessions from our Village Health team member has helped me understand the importance of feeding nutritiously as a mother and the importance of exclusive breastfeeding. To date 20,000 children are benefiting from the school feeding program and 13 schools have backyard gardens.  Many homes in Ayillo I and 2, Nyumanzi, Bidibidi and other refugee settlements have small kitchen or back yard gardens that have been set up by children.

Lilian Mugisha