We’re happy to share a video created by our field partners in Burundi, Food for the Hungry!  The video illustrates our combined efforts to improve the health and nutrition of children in the nation of Burundi.  The video tracks a five-day distribution of deworming medicine throughout Burundi in July 2009.  The distribution was part of the country’s “National Health Initiative” which dispensed deworming medicine, as well as vitamin A capsules, measles vaccinations, and malaria nets to the people of Burundi. Food for the Hungry’s Program Manager Cameron Calabrese explained that the initiative was a huge and successful undertaking by the people of Burundi.   

As the video explains, intestinal worms found in children throughout Burundi harm a child’s health by stealing nutrition from the child’s diet, leading to anemia, malnutrition, and even death.  Deworming medicines like those provided by FH allow nutrients to be properly absorbed in the child’s body. In partnering with Food for the Hungry and the Burundi Ministry of Health, Vitamin Angels is currently reaching over 1,089,000 children throughout the country. Vitamin A supplements and deworming medicines are distributed through national mother and child health weeks administered twice a year by the government of Burundi. All infants and children under five are universally targeting to receive immunizations and vitamin A supplementation.

Vitamin Angels’ Program Coordinator Cami Allen traveled to Burundi this year to meet with Food for the Hungry and take part in a vitamin A and deworming supplement distribution. Click here to read about her experience and see pictures>>