Pleading with authorities to put more resources into the fight against malnutrition

In view of the worrying situation of malnutrition in the North region, Ingrid Ouedraogo, a nurse in the north of Burkina Faso, is pleading to the local authorities and the government to put more resources into the fight against malnutrition.

‘I am Ingrid Ouedraogo, a nurse for about fifteen years. I am currently in charge of the Nutritional Recovery and Education Centre at the Pediatric Medical and Surgical Centre based in Ouahigouya in the north of Burkina Faso.

Massive displacement

Our centre is specialised in the treatment of children suffering from malnutrition and also in prevention, in particular through support and advice to parents to prevent cases of malnutrition. In our centre, each month, we receive more than fifty malnourished children. The cases that come to us are generally cases of severe and moderate malnutrition. This situation has been aggravated by the massive displacement of people from their homes to Ouahigouya due to armed attacks. Since 2014, thousands of people have fled their homes following attacks by unidentified armed groups.

Enriched porridge

We teach the mothers who arrive here with their children how to make enriched porridge and give them advice so that their children can be well nourished and have optimal growth. However, our means of care are limited. Indeed, we lack dormitories to accommodate the children properly and medicines/dietary supplements for their care.

Rights and duties

For several years, we have been carrying out awareness-raising activities on nutrition and health, but the growing insecurity has reduced our movements, making it difficult to raise awareness among the population. However, despite the difficult security context, we are not giving up. We continue to sensitise communities and traditional leaders about their rights and duties towards children, and more specifically we encourage them to work for the well-being of children.

We continue to sensitise communities and traditional leaders about their rights and duties towards children

Participate in discussions

In view of the worrying situation of malnutrition in the North region, we appeal to the local authorities and the government to put more resources into the fight against malnutrition. Whenever the opportunity arises to participate in discussions and/or consultations, we do not fail to make a plea for an improvement in the nutritional situation in the region. This is why we welcome the arrival of the Right2Grow partnership, which will amplify our voices to the national and local authorities so that they can truly address the problem of child malnutrition.’

Interview by Bertille Zoungrana, Communication and Advocacy Officer at AMR-Burkina