AFRICA/NIGER - For many starving people Catholic Feeding Centres are the only source of hope x

Niamey (Fides Service) - For some years the local Church in Niger has provided food for people in the poorest areas. In this present crisis in recent months this activity has intensified. For many people Catholic Feeding Centres are the only source of hope (see Fides 21 September 2005).
According to Adamou Agmaraki, head of the healthcare sector of Caritas Development Niger, when the present crisis struck the Church had five such feeding centres, today it has ten. “ Our Feeding Centres assist children who suffer from malnutrition” said Agmaraki, “As the crisis grew and the demand increased we realised we would have to open more centres to meet all the needs”.
Besides malnourished children the centres also assist pregnant mothers and people with HIV/AIDS. In only two months, August and September, over 3,400 people benefited from the Caritas Development food programme which distributes special high-protein food supplied by international humanitarian organisations as well as locally produced cereals.
One of these Catholic Feeding Centres in Dolbel south west Niger feeds more than 200 children every week. The person in charge said 98% of the children are malnourished and that 70% suffer from malaria and need medical care. “We are working to enlarge the centre in collaboration with a medical team. We hope to improve conditions and make out a timetable for children’s medical examinations” said a member of the staff at Dolbel.
Besides a state dispensary, the Dolbel Catholic Feeding Centre is the only other health structure in the region where there are 50 villages. For children suffering from conjunctivitis and with clear signs of under nourishment, the Centre is the only source of hope for survival and a better future. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 3/10/2005 righe 30 parole 342)