childhood health survey - 2 communities

The second health survey conducted across two similar communities , Ogriabene and Ekogbene.

Summary:

• A broad range of foods are available in each community
• Despite this there is almost 30% malnutrition in children in both communities
• Breastfeeding is not universally practiced
• Immunisation programs are woefully inadequate
• Availability of vaccines is not a problem
• Infant mortality in the delta remains one of the highest in the world
• Failure to deliver results from a complex interaction of poverty, lack of eductation, absence of government infrastructure, corruption, political instability, local criminal gang activity,polygamy, access, and transportation.
• These difficulties are experienced at national and at local service provision
• New Foundations measles vaccination campaign in these communities has coverage equal to the best rates elswhere in the country, and observationally incidence of the disease has dramatically fallen
• Locally embedded intiatives and partnership with communities we believe is better for long term outcome.

“We started from a situation of very low coverage, and poor capacity in most of the States. We work within a financially constrained context. We work within a context of blurred lines of responsibility and accountability. We work in a context of virtually collapsed health system.”

- World Health Organisation. ’Towards universal coverage of basic health services .

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                                   Child fed exclusively corn starch and water