In poverty-stricken slum areas such as on Smokey Mountain, malnutrition is a very common problem among children aged between 0 and 6. Malnourishment is caused there by poor or insufficient food, sickness and lack of hygiene. If a child has a quick succession of diarrhea attacks, for example, and this is in combination with poor nutrition, then the child can lose weight very rapidly. Also many children suffer respiratory tract problems such as tuberculosis and bronchial pneumonia. In addition to these health issues children sometimes suffer neglect due to social problems within the family.
Unfortunately malnutrition hinders the mental and social development of a young child. It can also interfere with their educational development later when they start school.
What does Young Focus do?
In the Child Care program, Young Focus tackles these issues in three essential areas:
- Feeding project and health coaching
- Child care
- Medical (and social) assistance
1 Feeding project and health coaching
Young Focus first tracks down those children in the slums who are at risk of malnourishment. Then these children receive specially formulated meals on a daily basis until the Child Care team is confident that the parents can take over. Not only do the parents have insufficient means to provide for their children, they also often lack the knowledge on how to take care of a child. Parents are given coaching on health, nutrition and hygiene so that they can take better care of their children.
2. Child care (more information...)
Severely malnourished babies and toddlers are looked after at the Young Focus Child Care Center (YFCC). The YFCC is literally built on the garbage dump. The children are washed, fed and taken care of here, also receiving mental and physical stimulation to compensate for their potential deficit in development. The children may need between 3 months and 1 year to gain sufficient weight.
3. Medical (and social) assistance
Sickness can be both a cause and a result of malnutrition. Malnourished children have a weakened immune system. Therefore, the children at the Child Care Center, as well as those in the feeding project, receive the necessary medical assistance. In addition to the social assistance and direct help given to the children, the Young Focus Child Care team also has a preventative approach, giving prenatal help to pregnant women in order to prevent malnourishment of the unborn child.
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