By Eric Mitchell
Hapsatou Kah is an extraordinary woman working tirelessly to end malnutrition in her village of Sylla Diongto in northeastern Senegal.
Empowered with training and support from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Hapsatou plays many roles — adviser, teacher, entrepreneur, and role model — to put her village on the path to improved health. The funding of USAID programs is determined by Congress, and these programs can go a long way toward ending malnutrition.
Poverty and malnutrition are all too common in Hapsatou’s rural village. So Hapsatou has become an expert in agriculture, showing villagers how to plant more diverse vegetables so they have a healthier diet.
She manages a livestock program that teaches families how to raise sheep to earn money. The program also provides villagers with milk and meat.
And Hapsatou is also a teacher. She leads two educational groups, one for children and another for mothers. The programs impart vital health and wellness knowledge to villagers.
Let’s ensure that women like Hapsatou and many others like her continue to receive the support they need to end malnutrition in their communities. Remember that ordinary actions can one day become extraordinary accomplishments.
As part of our 2016 Offering of Letters, we asked Congress to increase funding to $230 million for global nutrition funding. Congress has yet to make that commitment. However, we still have an opportunity to ensure that fewer mothers and children will suffer the painful consequences of malnutrition.
Call (800-826-3688) or email your senator or representative today. Urge Congress to increase funding for global nutrition programs.
Eric Mitchell is the director of government relations at Bread for the World.
