In February 2022, two professionals traveled to Uganda on behalf of the Green Food Foundation.
Here, they initiated a mission in collaboration with the NGO Link to Progress. Link to Progress is a non-governmental organization which aims to serve vulnerable communities in Northern and Eastern Uganda. The organization currently in the process of implementing a healthy school lunch program to improve the nutritional status of primary school children living in the Oyam district.
Currently, many children do not consume enough energy and/or nutrients and are therefore at a higher risk for negative health consequences, such as wasting, stunting, micronutrient deficiencies and developmental delay. In order to improve the nutritional value of the school lunches, Link to Progress invited our professionals with the request to assist them.
Our professionals provided valuable information on the importance of nutrition for the mother and (unborn) child during the first 1000 days of life. Additionally, in the Oyam district five primary schools were visited and over 600 children were measured. They found that of the 190 children aged between 5 and 10 years, 5,3% were underweight. Of the 610 children in total, 8,9% were stunted, 23,4% had thinness and 5,9% suffered from severe thinness. Furthermore, of the 61 measured children 37,7% had anemia. Of these, 52,2% suffered from mild anemia and 47,8% from moderate anemia. No children had severe anemia.
The primary aim was to advise Link to Progress and the headmasters and teachers of the schools with regards to healthy nutrition, in order to improve the nutritional status of the children. Sustainability and local availability were taken into account. Through the advice, the Green Food Foundation eventually hopes to contribute to reducing the prevalence of wasting, stunting and/or anemia. Developments will be followed for a year and, if necessary, further advice will be given to secure the results.
