Koinadugu is one of the districts in Sierra Leone most affected by malnutrition, which poses a serious risk to child survival if left untreated.
In response, the Mama-Pikin Foundation (MPF), with funding from the Swiss NGO SolidarMed through the Together for Healthy Children (T4HC) project, has partnered with the Ministry of Health to operationalize an In-Patient Feeding (IPF) Unit at Kabala Government Hospital. This specialized unit provides critical care and rehabilitation for children suffering from acute malnutrition.
The program was launched in June 2025 and on 24th July 2025, a milestone was reached as four children who had been admitted to the IPF Unit were successfully discharged after receiving therapeutic feeding and medical care. Their recovery marks a significant step in the ongoing efforts to combat malnutrition in the district.
As part of the program, families are provided transportation to travel to the hospital for treatment and are also are provided with food so that they are able to stay in the hospital to complete treatment. To support continued recovery and resilience at home, they are also provided take-home food packages, including rice, beans, maggie and cooking oil. These supplies serve as a short-term coping mechanism, helping families maintain improved nutrition at the household level while reducing the risk of relapse. The program also supports outpatient nutrition programs at Kondembaia and Fadugu community health centers and includes community and district-wide sensitization activities on malnutrition prevention and treatment.
