It seems like yesterday that I was writing about the ‘Hungry months’.
Well, they’re here again. This time we hope that it won’t be as bad – but nevertheless, more and more malnourished children are entering my two centres in Basankusu.
The first centre, on the other side of town to where I live, started to fill up at the beginning of last month. There are now thirty children being treated there.
The new centre, next to the Catholic hospital and for children with severe malnutrition, began last month fairly quietly. One day, I was there to see Judith, who runs the whole programme, to talk about improving the new house. While we were talking, she looked out of the window.
“Oh no,” she exclaimed. “Look! The garden is full of people!”
It was actually only five children who needed treatment, but they of course came along with their mothers and (a few) fathers, as well as brothers and sisters.
At the other centre, the children are brought along by their parents for each of the three days we feed them. At the new centre, all the children, parents, and brothers and sisters, will sleep at the centre, because they’ll be fed every day and need round-the-clock care.
“We don’t have enough chairs, let alone beds,” said Judith. “What are we going to do?”
We quickly sent people to buy wood and raffia chairs, which are made locally, as well as a large tarpaulin and raffia mats for people to sleep on.
We continue to improve the new centre. A strong fence has been built around the whole plot. We have a well for water and we’ve built it up with concrete to keep it clean. Today we extended the kitchen by building a palm-thatched shelter to keep people dry when it rains and out of the sun when it’s too hot.
So, all together we have thirty-five children – by the end of June, it’s bound to be around sixty.
When everyone was settled, and being fed, Judith looked out again.
“It’s very sad,” she said. “The mothers are often just as hungry as the children.”
We watched one mother who ate every second spoonful herself.
“Yes,” I said, “the hungry months are very sad indeed.”
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 |
| Children eating at the centre. |
Well, they’re here again. This time we hope that it won’t be as bad – but nevertheless, more and more malnourished children are entering my two centres in Basankusu.
The first centre, on the other side of town to where I live, started to fill up at the beginning of last month. There are now thirty children being treated there.
The new centre, next to the Catholic hospital and for children with severe malnutrition, began last month fairly quietly. One day, I was there to see Judith, who runs the whole programme, to talk about improving the new house. While we were talking, she looked out of the window.
 |
| Francis Hannaway at the centre. |
“Oh no,” she exclaimed. “Look! The garden is full of people!”
It was actually only five children who needed treatment, but they of course came along with their mothers and (a few) fathers, as well as brothers and sisters.
 |
| Families arriving at the new centre. |
At the other centre, the children are brought along by their parents for each of the three days we feed them. At the new centre, all the children, parents, and brothers and sisters, will sleep at the centre, because they’ll be fed every day and need round-the-clock care.
“We don’t have enough chairs, let alone beds,” said Judith. “What are we going to do?”
We quickly sent people to buy wood and raffia chairs, which are made locally, as well as a large tarpaulin and raffia mats for people to sleep on.
We continue to improve the new centre. A strong fence has been built around the whole plot. We have a well for water and we’ve built it up with concrete to keep it clean. Today we extended the kitchen by building a palm-thatched shelter to keep people dry when it rains and out of the sun when it’s too hot.
So, all together we have thirty-five children – by the end of June, it’s bound to be around sixty.
When everyone was settled, and being fed, Judith looked out again.
“It’s very sad,” she said. “The mothers are often just as hungry as the children.”
 |
| Mending the fence at the first centre. |
We watched one mother who ate every second spoonful herself.
“Yes,” I said, “the hungry months are very sad indeed.”
Make a donation via PayPal
PayPal.me/FHannaway
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