Location:
Niger
Districts of Bouza, Karofane, Tama, Angoua Dagna
Type of project:
Health care, rehabilitation
Project duration:
Since August 2005
Local project manager:
Yuko Mogi (20 employees, including 85% nationals)
Project partners:
UNICEF, WEP, FAO, UNDP, AMURT (Int.), Doctors without Borders (Spain), CARE Niger, Institut de la Recherche Agronomique du Niger (INRAN), Cellule de la Crise Alimentaire (CCA) Institut de Santé Publique (ISP), VALPRO, Carolita Foundation (Switzerland), JPO, JICF, Government of Niger
Project description:
The country has to contend with many problems. This West African state with over 12 million inhabitants mainly depends on farming, deforestation and overgrazing. But plagues of locusts as well as progressive climate change mean that only a few areas of the country, which mostly consists of desert, are still cultivable. This is against the backdrop of a population explosion. These trends are resulting in catastrophic living conditions, famines and diseases. Over one third of the population and 40% of children are malnourished and 80,000 to 90,000 fall ill each year due to an immune system that is weakened by hunger.
LIFE FOR ALL launched its initial projects in August 2005, when the media were reporting that around 3.5 million people - including 150,000 children - were starving. Several programmes were started in cooperation with various organisations. They aim to bring about a sustainable improvement to the disastrous situation.
The organisation in Niger supports 21 food distribution centres. The children are examined there and receive medical care appropriate to their degree of malnutrition and they are also given food. Each year 15,000 food rations are distributed and over 5,000 children receive medical treatment and care.
We organise induction courses for mothers on the topics of hygiene and cleanliness. The poor health of small children is mainly attributable to a lack of hygiene.
LIFE FOR ALL is promoting self-sufficiency to combat chronic malnutrition. Over 500 mothers have participated in the food security programme to date. They are now able to use the agricultural knowledge they have acquired to cultivate their own land and plant cereals all year round.