Today, we celebrate and recognize the special elders in our lives, those who have offered guidance, support, and strength to people and communities. While many older adults continue to thrive, others face more difficult circumstances. Our Mombasa sponsor site in Kenya is home to many vulnerable elderly people and people living with chronic diseases, which is why they needed some extra support.
These two populations are especially affected by malnutrition, and it can have the most urgent consequences on their health. Those taking antiretroviral therapy need nutrition support for their depressed immune systems. Sometimes, the patients have not been well-informed about the connection between nutrition and their long-term treatment and health.
With support from our Lunch buddies, who donate monthly through ladles and love nutrition campaign, Chalice has been able to provide meaningful support to elders in need. Our Mombasa site launched a 12-month program to improve the nutritional status of 20 elders and 80 people living with chronic illness.
The program is multi-pronged. The site delivers nutritious foods to the participants, but they also run educational activities with them. The participants are learning the role nutrition plays in absorbing their medication and supporting a strong immune system whenever possible.
They are also installing water tanks on the elders’ properties. They too are taking part in engaging workshops on health topics. The site is also working with families to introduce kitchen vegetable gardens to ensure family members have access to fresh produce.
According to Sr. Janefrances, Mombasa site director, the community has “loved and embraced it.” The staff delivered each family and elder a hamper holding maize flour, porridge flour, powdered milk, and vitamin-enriched margarine. “[The margarine] is made up of six good start vitamins (A, B1, B2, D, and Niacin) that most of our beneficiaries previously lacked,” says Sr. Jane.
“We have seen the nutritional health status of the elderly improve in the past year,” she says. Some of them are now able to gain weight and physical strength, which enables them to move a little to do some chaos around their homes. Those who were going for clinics for checkups are now able to visit the health facilities by themselves with minimal help.”
The home vegetable gardens are also a hit. The families were sponges for the farming training, and at once planted their own plots.
“The parents harvested a lot of vegetables for home consumption and or selling in the nearby market for income,” says Sr. Janefrances. “Many of them are opting to be vegetable farmers in the near future.” Other parents are taking notice and emulating their neighbours’ gardens.
The more vegetable gardens, the more food secure the entire community can become.
“We really thank you so much for this program as it continues to make a difference in these families and improve their livelihoods,” says Sr. Janefrances. “God bless you so much.
Chalice’s nutrition programs focus on each country considering its own needs as each community is different. Become a lunch buddy and you will support a hungry child or elder.