Health
When malnutrition and sickness coincide, easy to treat illnesses like diarrhea can turn fatal. Malnutrition remains an underlying cause in over half of all childhood deaths — some 5 million children each year.
Disease and malnutrition: a self-reinforcing relationship
Recognising the symbiotic relationship between malnutrition and sickness, Action Against Hunger also fights the diseases that accompany poor nutrition. Through our efforts to fight acute moderate and severe malnutrition, we not only strive to save children from starvation, but seek to restore them to health. When a child undergoes treatment at a feeding centre, we administer medication to prevent the kinds of infection and illness that can be most devastating if allowed to take root.
The medications dispensed will vary depending on region, country and national health protocols, but most frequently we administer the following three: Amoxicillin, an antibiotic effective against a wide spectrum of infections; Medendazole, which kills most intestinal worms; and anti-malarial drugs.
Other health related activities include vaccination programmes and vitamin A and iron supplementation for mothers and children as well as training on how to foster health through good nutritional practices. In keeping with our overall approach to humanitarian aid, we coordinate closely with the existing public health system to ensure that our work draws on and strengthens local expertise. In the aftermath of a crisis, Action Against Hunger can help restore the public health infrastructure by fielding mobile health clinics to areas affected by epidemic, by rehabilitating and restocking public health centres, and by training local medical personnel on such topics as vaccinations, prenatal health care and methods for identifying the symptoms of disease and malnutrition.
Newsletter subscription
Jobs Against Hunger
Human resources
Current openings
Head of mission
Current openings
Nutrition & Health
Current openings
Food Security
Current openings
Logistics
Current openings
Finance administration
Current openings
Water & Sanitation
Current openings
Coordination
Current openings
Première moisson
New Roots Herbal
Support Action Against Hunger by purchasing New Roots Herbal products featured in the Choose to Care initiative. New Roots Herbal is a leading manufacturer and distributor of high quality natural health products. The Choose to Care initiative donates a percentage of sales to various charities, through a removable tag attached to select New Roots Herbal products. To support us, simply purchase one of the participating products from your local health food store, remove the donation tag and select ACF as the recipient charity for your donation. With New Roots Herbal, choosing to help has never been so easy!
Nourish tea
Drink tea - fight Hunger!
Action Against Hunger is a proud partner of Nourishtea, a premium loose tea company dedicated to bringing the finest loose tea leaves from around the world to your cup. Nourishtea supports estates that are sustainable, ethical and abide by fair labour practices. To further their commitment to sustainability, the company also donates 5% of its proceeds to programs providing nutrition and hydration to those in need, with an emphasis on the young – wherever they may be.









