Nutrition is especially important for children because it is directly linked to all aspects of their growth and development; factors which tie directly to their level of health and will help promote a better quality of their life as adults.
Nutrition remains a fundamental challenge in Uganda; with one-third of children less than five years old being stunted. Under nutrition is the underlying cause of 60 percent of deaths of these children and complications resulting from malnutrition are currently widespread in Uganda, affecting about 54% of children, about 15 million of the country’s 25 million children.
Jesa, a dairy farm, processor and distributor of a wide range of high quality dairy products, understands the nutritional challenges faced by the children of Uganda and, through its Corporate Social Responsibility Division, has provided 100 (One Hundred) Cartons of Milk to the children receiving treatment and care at Mwama Mujimu Nutrition Unit in Mulago.
Mwana Mujimu Nutrition Unit is Uganda’s prime center that medically manages nutrition complications in children. The center is the largest and oldest health unit in Uganda dedicated to child nutrition and offers a wide range of nutrition services.
Handing over the cartons of Jesa Milk to the unit, Geoffrey Mulwana, The Managing Director, Jesa Milk Farm Dairy highlighted the company’s commitment and obligation towards supporting and providing the nutritional requirements of the children of Uganda.
The company which is currently running a campaign dubbed Jesa “Full of Life” seeks to “Fill” the children of Mwana Mujimu and Uganda as a whole with the nutritional values provided by Jesa Milk and therefore give them a chance to grow healthy and strong, giving them Energy, Health and Joy, because Jesa is “Full of Life”
Jesa Milk and Dairy products are great sources of energy and protein; they contain a wide range of vitamins and minerals, which growing children and young people need to, grow healthy and strong and the contribution of 100 Cartons of Jesa Milk will form part of a healthy diet for the children at the unit and we will continue to contribute and support the Mwana Mujimu nutrition unit.” He added.
“Being the National Referral Centre for all acute malnutrition cases, at Mwana Mujimu, we deal with the crucial cases that cannot be handled by other facilities that do not primarily focus on nutrition. These children need a continuous supply of quality foods and nutrients to meet their nutritional needs.” Stated Dr. Elizabeth Kiboneka, the Head of Unit at Mwana Mujimu.
She thanked Jesa Farm Dairy for their continued support towards the nutrition and wellbeing of the children at the unit.
She commended Jesa Milk as one of the critical and most required nutrients of a child’s growth and development and encouraged parents and caretakers of children to continuously provide their children with Jesa Milk and Dairy products for the growth and development of their children.