7 Jun 2012

CHAD / SAHEL NUTRITION

UNICEF says the nutritional crisis in Chad is being compounded by one of the world’s lowest rates of breastfeeding – only three mothers out of every hundred exclusively breastfeed their children. UNICEF

Posted at: June 7, 2012 4:45 pm

Duration: 02:12

Available in: SD

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Full script

STORY: CHAD / SAHEL NUTRITION
TRT: 2.12
SOURCE: UNICEF
RESTRICTIONS: NONE 
LANGUAGES: FRENCH / CHADIAN ARABIC / NATS
 
DATELINE: 16 MARCH-24 APRIL 2012, NOKOU, MONGO, N'DJAMENA, CHAD

SHOTLIST:

1. Various shots, baby Ereta and mother
2. SOUNDBITE (Chadian Arabic) Zaïnabou Mamataya, Mother:
"I gave birth after Ramadan, and my baby fell ill. My other children could walk when they were eight months old, but Ereta can't."
3. Wide shot, dusty terrain
4. Various shots, mothers and babies
5. SOUNDBITE (Chadian Arabic) Zaïnabou Mamataya, Mother:
"As soon as my baby was born, I gave her some water or some millet water that I mix with oil. I do this because it's a tradition handed down from our grandmothers. I don't really know why."
6. Various shots, community health meeting
7. SOUNDBITE (French) Achta Mahamt Saleh, Community Health Facilitator:
"After Ize has explained, and then explained again and again, people are finally convinced. Now they understand the importance and the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding."
8. Various shots, farmers tending crops
9. SOUNDBITE (Chadian Arabic) Adoum Idriss, farmer:
"Even without much rain, we can use the wadis. And if we can increase production in the wadis, we would be able to support the parents who in turn could take care of their children. In the old days we didn't eat vegetables, but now we are growing them." 
10. Wide shot, farmer tending crop
11. SOUNDBITE (Chadian Arabic) Adoum Idriss, farmer:
"Some of us have travelled and have seen how other people eat, and we are doing the same here."
12. Wide shot, nutritional supplies
13. Various shots, mothers with babies

STORYLINE:
 
Ereta is the face of Chad's worsening nutritional crisis. At eight months old she should be at least eight kilograms. She weighs just 2.6.

SOUNDBITE (Chadian Arabic) Zaïnabou Mamataya, Mother:
"I gave birth after Ramadan, and my baby fell ill. My other children could walk when they were eight months old, but Ereta can't."

The rains have failed across the Sahel and more than a million children are facing death.

In Chad the problem is compounded by one of the world's lowest rates of breastfeeding … only three mothers out of every hundred exclusively breastfeed their children.

SOUNDBITE (Chadian Arabic) Zaïnabou Mamataya, Mother:
"As soon as my baby was born, I gave her some water or some millet water that I mix with oil. I do this because it's a tradition handed down from our grandmothers. I don't really know why."

If Chadian women could be persuaded to breastfeed infant mortality rates would fall drastically.

UNICEF supports Médecins du Monde, which organizes village meetings with facilitators who encourage mothers to breastfeed their babies.

Ize is sharing with these mothers how breastfeeding helped her to raise healthy babies.

SOUNDBITE (French) Achta Mahamt Saleh, Community Health Facilitator:
"After Ize has explained, and then explained again and again, people are finally convinced. Now they understand the importance and the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding."

As part of a long term solution to this nutritional crisis UNICEF is working with partners to help Chadian farmers grow a wider range of food.

SOUNDBITE (Chadian Arabic) Adoum Idriss, farmer:
"Even without much rain, we can use the wadis. And if we can increase production in the wadis, we would be able to support the parents who in turn could take care of their children. In the old days we didn't eat vegetables, but now we are growing them."

SOUNDBITE (Chadian Arabic) Adoum Idriss, farmer:
"Some of us have travelled and have seen how other people eat, and we are doing the same here."

Saving lives is the priority … and while baby Ereta is slowing putting on weight, UNICEF and its partners are working towards long term solutions that will lessen the impact of future drought.