Project Lead(s): Doris Kwesiga
Issue
Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM) is an underlying factor in 35% of the nearly eight million annual child deaths worldwide.
In Uganda, PEM contributes to up to 60% of child deaths, although it is rarely recognized as such; 11% of children are stunted at birth and rates of stunting as high as 52% have been reported in some districts.
Solution
The aim of the project was to pilot test a sustainable model of community-level management of Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM) through use of a nutritional supplement to improve the nutritional status of children ages six months to five years in the urban slums of Uganda.
Pilot implementation and evaluation of the nutritional supplement was to be conducted in the Kifumbira slum in Kampala and would include a purposive sample of 100 children with moderate to severe PEM.
The development of the supplement was to be done in collaboration with the Department of Food and Nutrition at Makerere University, Kampala.
The team met with a number of key stakeholders, such as the local leadership at the proposed location for the project, the head of the Village Health Teams and an experienced developer of nutritional supplements at Food and Nutrition Solutions (FONUS) Uganda Limited.
Outcome
The project was unsuccessful, as the project team was unable to obtain Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval.
The IRB rejected the protocol for lacking scientific validity and failing to follow the guidance of the Board.
The team does not intend to apply for Transition To Scale (TTS) funding.