ETHIOPIA / MALNUTRITION

In areas once affected by famine, Ethiopia is building capacity to wipe out malnutrition. Thousands of workers have been trained in providing health, nutrition and sanitation services to rural populations in over 9,000 health centers in the Amhara region. UNICEF

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:36
• Production Date: 1 February 2012
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN'S FUND - UNICEF
• Subject Topical: HEALTH; NUTRITION; HEALTH SERVICES
• Geographic Subject: ETHIOPIA
• MAMS Id: U120201c

Description

STORY: ETHIOPIA / MALNUTRITION
TRT: 2:36
SOURCE: UNICEF
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: AMHARIC / NATS

DATELINE: 17 NOVEMBER 2011, LASTA DISTRICT, AMHARA REGION, ETHIOPIA

Shotlist

1. Wide shot, mothers waiting with their children at the Geter Meda Health Post
2. Med shot, Aynadis and her mother Seta Temesgen
3. Med shot, Aynadis and her mother sit at table with health worker
4. Close up, health worker takes Aynadis’ temperature
5. Med shot, baby Aynadis and her mother Seta Temesgen
6. Close up, Aynadis eating therapeutic food provided to malnourished children
7. Close up, health worker, Habtam Byabel, taking notes
8. SOUNDBITE (Amharic) Habtam Byabel, Health Worker:
“She was 4.9 kilos when she was admitted to this programme and now she weighs 5 kilos. So though we still can’t say that she is in a good condition, she has definitely shown improvement.”
9. Med shot, Habtam Byabel places Aynadis in a scale
10. Close up, Habtam Byabel measuring Aynadis’ mid-upper arm circumference
11. Med shot, Habtam Byabel pointing at a chart
12. Close up, sachets of ready to use therapeutic food
13. Med shot, Habtam Byabel holding bag with sachets of ready to use food
14. SOUNDBITE (Amharic) Seta Temesgen, Mother:
“She told me to prepare food as a porridge and feed her. She also gave me this ready to use food. I’ve been told to feed her this together with my breast milk. I was also asked to wash my hands with soap and also wash the little girl so she’s kept clean.”
15. Med shot, health worker and mother with baby walk back to the medical room
16. Close up, seven-month old Aynadis being examined by the nurse
17. Various shots, health worker, mother and baby
18. SOUNDBITE (Amharic) Habtam Byabel, Health Worker:
“Last year we had eight children in the outpatient therapeutic programme, now we have just three. These children were identified by community health volunteers who know all the children who are five years and under in this area. They mobilize those families that need assistance and bring the children here for examination.”
19. Med shot, Seta Temesgen carries her baby on her back
20. Wide shot, Seta Temesgen walking out of the health center

Storyline

Smiling in her mother’s arms at a health center in Ethiopia’s Amhara region, seven-month-old Aynadis has survived one of the biggest tests of her life.

Just a few months ago, she was diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition, a deadly condition that’s not uncommon in this area once overrun by famine.

Aynadis’ mother says the endless hours she spends working in the fields left her with no time or resources to care for her children.

Now with this UNICEF-supported health centers, Aynadis has the opportunity to recover.

Habtam Byabel, a health worker at the center has been monitoring her condition.

SOUNDBYTE (Amharic) Habtam Byabel, Health Worker:
“She was 4.9 kilos when she was admitted to this programme and now she weighs five kilos. So though we still can’t say that she is in a good condition, she has definitely shown improvement.”

Habtam conducts weekly checkups for children like Aynadis by weighing them and checking their mid-upper arm circumference to measure their nutritional status.

Mothers are counseled and given ready-to-use therapeutic foods to take home.

SOUNDBITE (Amharic) Seta Temesgen, Mother:
“She told me to prepare food as a porridge and feed her. She also gave me this ready to use food. I’ve been told to feed her this together with my breast milk. I was also asked to wash my hands with soap and also wash the little girl so she’s kept clean.”

Habtam is amongst the thousands of workers trained in providing health, nutrition and sanitation services to rural populations by the Government of Ethiopia, UNICEF and partners.

Together, they have set up over 9,000 health centers like this one which are proving to be lifelines for families in the hardest to reach places.

SOUNDBITE (Amharic) Habtam Byabel, Health Worker:
“Last year we had eight children in the outpatient therapeutic programme, now we have just three. These children were identified by community health volunteers who know all the children who are five years and under in this area. They mobilize those families that need assistance and bring the children here for examination.”

Habtam says she has a lot of confidence in the program and believes that they’re on their way to building a strong shield that will protect the nutritional needs of rural communities in times of crisis.