Médecins Sans Frontières Nutritional intervention in the Oromiya region of Ethiopia

Two weeks ago the medical humanitarian organisation Médecins Sans Frontières launched a nutritional intervention in some areas of the southern region of Oromiya in Ethiopia, following assessments that showed alarming levels of malnutrition among children under five.

Médecins Sans Frontières has set up three inpatient clinics - also called “stabilisation centres” - for the most severely malnourished children who also have medical complications, such as pneumonia or anaemia, and need intensive medical care. The centres are located in the towns of Ropi, Senbete Shinquille and Shashemene in the Siraro and Shashemene districts. As of 27 May, Médecins Sans Frontières was treating around 435 children in these three centres.

In Ropi, Médecins Sans Frontières is caring for 150 children that were previously being looked after by a Missionaries’ Charity, and an additional 25 children. Many of these children are suffering from "kwashiorkor" – a form of oedema that is caused by malnutrition, manifesting in liquid retention in the legs and feet which can reach up to the face as the child’s status worsens.

In Shashemene, Médecins Sans Frontières set up another stabilisation centre in an already existing structure beside the town’s hospital, where children had been admitted at a growing rate in the previous days. Médecins Sans Frontières is caring for 135 patients from the hospital and more patients are arriving everyday. On 26 May alone, 70 new cases were admitted. As 27 May, there are around 200 children under care in Shashemene stabilisation centre. Médecins Sans Frontières has also opened a new stabilisation centre in Senbete Shinquille. Around 60 patients were admitted on the first day of activities.

In order to treat children suffering from malnutrition who are not suffering from complications, Médecins Sans Frontières is also supporting several ‘outpatient therapeutic programs’ (OTPs) in existing health centres in Fajigole, Aje, Toga, Ropi and Senbete Shinquille. Médecins Sans Frontières medical teams are currently visiting those structures and other ambulatory centres in order to screen children for malnutrition. Complicated cases are referred to the stabilisation centres, while those without complications are treated in an ambulatory way with specific therapeutic food. At present Médecins Sans Frontières is treating 125 children at the OTP in Ropi and 150 children at the OTP in Senbete Shinquille. Medical teams have also started doing outreach activities in the surrounding areas and Médecins Sans Frontières expects to receive more children in the coming days.

These activities are in addition to Médecins Sans Frontières' regular projects with a nutritional component in the Somali region of Ethiopia: in Degahbur, Cherrati, Warder and Fiq. Some of these programs have seen a significant increase in the numbers of malnourished children over the last month. In Degahbur, for example, Médecins Sans Frontières is now treating 600 children for malnutrition, 20% of whom are severely malnourished.

Given the fact that the next harvest is only expected to occur in August-September, Médecins Sans Frontières remains prepared to respond on a larger scale if necessary and will continue nutritional surveillance in the area.

Médecins Sans Frontières has been working in Ethiopia since 1984.