At any given time, we have at least one or two young children in St. Boniface Hospital with acute, severe malnutrition. This typically presents itself as a condition called kwashiorkor, which is caused by a lack protein in the diet of a growing child. It is a painful condition and can be a life-threatening condition if not treated in time. Supplemental milk products called F-75 and F-100 are given to the child as a tube feeding shortly after being admitted. These formulas are designed to meet their nutrition needs and bring them back to health. After becoming stable they are advanced to solid foods. We currently make our own formulas from whole milk powder, adding extra sugar and oil to provide more calories in an appropriate balance of nutrients. Thanks to a generous donation from UNICEF, we will no longer have to bear this expense. They will be giving us several cases of both formulas in a pre-mixed form. With the current food crisis in Haiti, the rates of children being admitted with severe malnutrition are increasing. Support from large organizations like UNICEF, and from the individual donors of St. Boniface Haiti Foundation, enables us to respond to the needs of these children.
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