A big part of fighting malnutrition is fighting disease.
"Absorption [of micronutrients] may be impaired by infection or a parasite. Infections and parasites can spread easily in unhealthy environments with poor water, sanitation and hygiene conditions." (2014 Global Hunger Index)
"Absorption [of micronutrients] may be impaired by infection or a parasite. Infections and parasites can spread easily in unhealthy environments with poor water, sanitation and hygiene conditions." (2014 Global Hunger Index)
To address these threats to child health, FH Canada supports Cascade Groups - a system in which approximately 10 women (a.k.a. "Leader Mothers") are trained on basic family health, hygiene, and sanitation. After completing a series of trainings, these 10 women each form a new group of 10 whom they instruct in public health issues. In this way, the knowledge spreads throughout the community via those who have the greatest influence on family health - the mothers!
Cascade groups educate the community on the necessity of handwashing, practicing good sanitation, breastfeeding babies, and diversifying their children's food to include more vegetables and legumes. All these practices integrate to produce healthier children who are better able to absorb and process the nutrients they need for mental health, physical growth, and, of course, an increased capacity to play.
Read Adremene's story for a first-hand account of a Cascade Group success:
