Health & Nutrition

By Rutendo Singadi

AFTER years of experiencing food insecurity caused by drought and climate change, Save the Children has brought smiles and hope to the people of Binga District in Zimbabwe. 

The organisation is implementing a cash transfer programme that is meant to help the community to buy basic food commodities like mealie meal and cooking oil. Each household receives a minimum of US$9.00 per person in cash, and the maximum amount for each family is $45 (USD) per month. 

The Regional Director for Save the Children's East and Souther Africa Region, David Wright, visited Zimbabwe’s worst drought affected district of Binga, where he among other activities observed babies being screened for malnutrition at Sebungwe Mouth community growth monitoring point. The community screening point which serves all children under five years from surrounding villages was set up and equipped with support from Save the Children.

Save the Children has conducted a five day training covering growth assessments and Infant and Young Child Feeding Counselling (IYCFC) for Health workers in Binga. A total of thirty nurses drawn from all Health facilities in the District participated in the training, in an effort to complement Ministry of Health and Child Care efforts to improve support to breastfeeding mothers and growth monitoring of children.

Chitsungo clinic in Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe district has sub-divided its main maternity room in response to patients' demand for privacy, in line with the Patients Charter. The development is in response to community demands made through the Health Centre Committee which was trained and supported by Save the Children.