HELMUT LOTTI

Helmut Lotti in Burundi
De Nieuwe Gazet 2 Burundi		under construction
De Krant Helmut in Burundi		under construction

		More than half of the 9.7 million children who die every year before their fifth birthday, live in Africa. Malnutrition is one of the most important causes of death for the children on this continent. For the campaign “Save four million babies”, UNICEF Belgium asks special attention for 3 African countries: the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone and Burundi.
		Helmut Lotti is godfather of the campaign 2008 and travelled with UNICEF to Burundi in the beginning of September. He visited the provincial hospital of Gitega, where Dr. Frederic Jrambuna extendedly sketch the situation of the nutrition of children in Burundi.

“By a too unvaried nutrition, the children lack vitamins and supplements.”, says Dr. Jrambuna. “When this qualitative malnutrition keeps on for a long period, it will of course disrupt the growth and development of the children.”

At the moment 19 children stay in the children’s section of the hospital in Gitega, all of them seriously underfed. Here they receive intense guidance and therapeutic nourishment.

“It certainly isn’t simple”, says Dr. Jrambuna. “The older the children are, the more difficult it is to get rid of the consequences of the shortage of essential materials. An arrear during the first crucial years in life, will influence the entire development of a child.”

“Being quick is the key word in the fight against malnutrition”, says dr. Jrambuna. “That is why a regular check of length and weight of children is essential. Together with UNICEF we try to persuade young mothers to visit us regularly for consultation.”

Still, Helmut Lotti is hopeful. “When I was making music and dancing with the street children in the centre of the Fondation Stamm in Bujumbura, I was impressed with the hope and ambition of these kids. Like all children – wherever in the world – the children of Burundi have a right to a beautiful future as well. If we, together with UNICEF, can contribute to that, we just have to. Therefore I hope that the new campaign of UNICEF Belgium will be successful. Together we can give the children of Burundi a future. And let’s be honest… what can be more beautiful than that?”.