Planning During the week before the program startedweek of the program, Guerda and Annaus conducted practice interviews with four volunteer families. Two of the families had little girls who qualified for the program, e.g. needed help and were not so malnourished that they needed hospitalization, but are able to respond to medika mamba. The program formally started February 17. Each child made weekly visits to the clinic for 8 to 12 weeks to receive their supply of medika mamba. The children's progress was checked at each visit, and their family members received information on both how to use the medika mamba appropriately and how to avoid malnutrition in the future. At the end of the three-month pilot program, FHM staff must decide how many children they can treat each month and how often they will admit new children to the program. In the meantime, FHM will be collecting names of infants and toddlers in the community who appear to be candidates for the next openings. Children who cannot be helped by the program will be referred to FHM's regular Blanchard Clinic staff or to a neighboring hospital. Annaus and Guerda along with FHM's On-site Manager, Missy Owen, all received training from Meds and Foods for Kids on how to set up and run the program. Week 1 (from FHM's On-site Manager, Missy Owen) Day One: The Blanchard Clinic Nutrition Program took place on Thursdays and Fridays. On the first day, five children came to enroll in the program. Four qualified, enrolled, and got their week’s supply of Medika Mamba. The fifth child, who was full of energy, dancing and singing, was very healthy. They showed her mom the stats, explained that the child was healthy, and urged her to continue doing such a good job. The child received a bar of soap and children's vitamins. All the moms were asked to spread the word in their communities that the program has started and that we are accepting more children tomorrow.
Day Two: On they second day of the program we had 23 children show up to be screened for entry into the program. Two were too young for the program; they were under six months old. They both looked healthy and I observed them breastfeeding while in the clinic, The mothers looked well nourished too. I am happy to say overall the children in the clinic today were well nourished and only five qualified. We now have 9 children enrolled in the pilot program. The children that did not meet the requirements to enter the program were given children's vitamins and a bar of Dial soap. We also made sure to praise the mothers and fathers for the good care they were giving their children. It was a joy to see their faces light up when we gave them words of encouragement. Week 2 FHM now has 12 children enrolled in the program. A number of new children came in the third week; 3 more qualified, bringing the total to a dozen. One child was running a fever and had to be referred downstairs to Dr. Yves Victor and Nurse Jeanette, who prescribed extra medicines. Each child in their second week received an anti-parasitic. Annaus, FHM's public health worker, will visit the children's homes this week.
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