Chattanooga Group Continues Work During Growing Food Crisis

Reports from Haiti's capital today say malnutrition is blamed for 26 child deaths in two weeks and a Chattanooga-based group is doing its part to keep it from growing.

The Children's Nutrition Program of Haiti works with malnourished children in the province of Leogane.

According to the group's website, malnutrition contributes to about 60% of all child deaths in Haiti, and 42% of surviving children are permanently stunted and experience varying degrees of physical and mental impairment due to protein and vitamin deficiencies.

Program director Ashley Aakesson says in the cities workers go to, they will treat them in the hospital with pediatricians if children are severely malnourished. If they are moderately malnourished, they will treat them on site.

"The cost of treatment per child has doubled in the current food crisis," Aakesson said.

She said that Haiti has not seen the full impact of summer Hurricanes because the crops were planted just before the hurricanes came through.

"We are anticipating an upswing in January because that will be harvest time and there will likely not be as much to harvest," Aakesson said.

"After the Hurricanes, we helped families with improved water storage by giving them a diluted chlorine solution to put in their buckets," she said. "This protected them from water-borne diseases and we gave it out free of charge."

She adds that part of the group's programs teach families renewable ways to grow food. The United Nations World Food Program is still providing assistance to Haiti residents and has been there since the Hurricanes this summer.

If you are interested in helping the group's efforts, click here for more information.