The Mouhoun Loop region, located in the north-west of Burkina Faso, features rates of chronic malnutrition that are regularly decreasing, but which nevertheless remain relatively high: 23.6 % of children under the age of 5 are affected by it. One of the causes is unsuitable feeding practices, in particular a low rate of exclusive breastfeeding (43.4 %) and poor minimum acceptable diet of children (15 %). Apart from feeding practices, malnutrition has multiple causes, particularly poor diversity of agricultural production (based mainly on cereals and cotton), poor hygiene and health practices, and a high level of social inequalities.
The four-year project to prevent malnutrition in the Mouhoun Loop (Premam), funded by the European Union, was launched in May 2018. It aims to decrease the prevalence of chronic malnutrition through campaigns to raise awareness on best nutritional practices among 108,000 households, making available fortified complementary foods made from local products and strengthening the resilience of 1,450 poor households via support for agricultural production, market-gardening and small-scale livestock breeding.
Innovative communication techniques will be introduced, such as awareness-raising using mobile telephony (via text messages), media campaigns on community radio stations and the creation of videos that can be shared on mobile phones. These will be made by the partner NGO, DMI. Advocacy will be undertaken among local elected representatives and the State technical services for better inclusion of prevention of delayed growth in policies.
This article was produced with financial support from the European Union. Its content falls under the sole responsibility of GRET and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the European Union.
