“State-of-the-Art”

… that’s how I would like to define the Therapeutic Feeding Center at the Magbenteh Community Hospital. When children are severely malnourished they may be admitted into the inpatient program at the TFC if they fit the various criteria, including being below the 70% weight-for-height ratio. I am finishing a week of volunteering at the TFC in Makeni in the Bombali District, a state that borders the Portloko District, where I had been staying. Here I’ve been observing how things run at a TFC, which departments are needed for an effective program, and noting any limitations. The TFC is the only one of its kind running at its capacity in all of Sierra Leone. The TFC recently opened a new facility (which is very, very nice) where they have a 100 patient capacity, which they are already pushing after two weeks of moving to the new facility. The National Organization for Welbody hopes to build a TFC in the Portloko District… hopefully I can contribute to drafting some ideas for the TFC and the treatment program while I’m here. Some pictures for you… remember to leave me comments when you visit!

A shot of one wing of the beautiful TFC.

F100 is the therapeutic milk used for treatment of malnourished children in Phase II of treatment. I mixed this creamy bucket of goodness. Its harder than you think!

The caretakers are lining up for the milk.. feeding typically takes place every three hours, 24 hours a day (depending on which phase child is in).. but at the 1pm feeding (pictured above), you're in for a treat. They sing a song about tying their hair and cleaning the cup and feeding the pikin well ^^

The focus of the picture is the girl behind the crying pikin... I like how her eyes seem to say "geez.. just drink your milk.. tastes alright to me."

MILK MUSTACHE ^^