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Potani I, Tausanovitch Z, Ritz C, Briend A, Coulibaly IN, Ouédraogo CT, Manda G, Kangas ST. The relationship between energy provided and growth during severe wasting treatment. MATERNAL & CHILD NUTRITION 2024:e13693. [PMID: 39101244 DOI: 10.1111/mcn.13693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2023] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 08/06/2024]
Abstract
Treatment of severe acute malnutrition aims at producing quick catch-up growth in children to decrease their short-term mortality risk. The extent to which catch-up growth is influenced by the amount of energy provided is unclear. This study assessed whether energy provided at admission is associated with catch-up ponderal growth among children with mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) < 115 mm at admission. We conducted a secondary data analysis an operational cohort in Mali. The children were treated with a simplified protocol providing 1000 kcal/day of therapeutic food until MUAC ≥ 115 mm was achieved for two consecutive weeks and 500 kcal/day thereafter until discharge with MUAC ≥ 125 mm for two consecutive weeks. Linear mixed-effects regression models were fitted to assess the relationship between energy provided at admission (kcal/kg/day) with weight gain velocity (g/kg/day) (primary outcome), change in MUAC -for-age z-score and change in weight-for-age z-score. Unadjusted models and models adjusted for sex, age, seasonality and MUAC at admission were fitted. Both models included the study site as a random effect. A 10 kcal/kg/day increase in energy provided at admission was associated with increments in all outcomes; for weight gain velocity, the mean (95% CI) increment was 0.340 [0.326, 0.354] g/kg/day and 0.466 [0.446, 0.485] g/kg/day in the unadjusted and adjusted analysis, respectively. A positive relationship exists between energy provided at admission and catch-up ponderal growth in children with MUAC < 115 mm treated using a simplified protocol. Determining the ideal weight gain rate remains essential for assessing the benefits and risks of increased energy intake during treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Potani
- Airbel Impact Lab, International Rescue Committee, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Global and Public Health, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi
| | | | - Christian Ritz
- National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - André Briend
- Tampere Center for Child, Adolescent and Maternal Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University and Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
- Department of Nutrition, Exercise, and Sports, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | | | - Geoffrey Manda
- Global Health Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Suvi T Kangas
- Airbel Impact Lab, International Rescue Committee, New York, New York, USA
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Wassonguema B, N’Diaye DS, Michel M, Ngabirano L, Frison S, Ba M, Siroma F, Brizuela AV, Audibert M, Chevreul K. The Economic Burden of Severe Acute Malnutrition with Complications: A Cost Analysis for Inpatient Children Aged 6 to 59 Months in Northern Senegal. Nutrients 2024; 16:2192. [PMID: 39064635 PMCID: PMC11279731 DOI: 10.3390/nu16142192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2024] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is a high-fatality condition that affected 13.7 million children under five years of age worldwide in 2022, with complicated cases requiring extensive inpatient stay with an accompanying caregiver. Our objective was to assess the costs of inpatient treatment for complicated SAM in children aged 6 to 59 months in Northern Senegal and identify cost predictors. We performed a retrospective cost analysis, including 140 children hospitalized from January to December 2020 in five SAM inpatient treatment facilities. We adopted a societal perspective, including direct medical and non-medical costs and indirect costs. We extracted patients' sociodemographic and clinical data from medical records and conducted semi-structured interviews with healthcare staff to capture information on time allocation and care management. A multivariable generalized linear model with gamma family and a log link was used to investigate the factors associated with direct costs. Costs are expressed in 2020 international USD using purchasing power parity. Mean length of stay was 5.3 (SD = 3.2) days and diarrhoea was the cause of the admission in 55.7% of cases. Mean total cost was USD 431.9 (SD = 203.9), with personnel being the largest cost item (33% of the total). Households' out-of-pocket expenses represented 45.3% of total costs and amounted to USD 195.6 (SD = 103.6). Costs were significantly associated with gender (20.3% lower in boys), diarrhoea (27% increase), anaemia (49.4% increase), inpatient death (44.9% decrease), and type of facility (26% higher in hospitals vs. health centre). Our study highlights the financial burden of complicated SAM in Senegal in particular for families. This underscores the need for tailored prevention and social policies to protect families from the disease's financial burden and improve treatment adherence, both in Senegal and similar contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bibata Wassonguema
- Research Unit, Expertise & Advocacy Department, Action Contre la Faim (ACF), 93100 Montreuil, France
- ECEVE, UMR 1123, Université Paris Cité, Inserm, 75010 Paris, France
| | - Dieynaba S. N’Diaye
- Research Unit, Expertise & Advocacy Department, Action Contre la Faim (ACF), 93100 Montreuil, France
| | - Morgane Michel
- ECEVE, UMR 1123, Université Paris Cité, Inserm, 75010 Paris, France
- Unité D’épidémiologique Clinique, Hôpital Robert Debré, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 75019 Paris, France
| | - Laure Ngabirano
- Research Unit, Expertise & Advocacy Department, Action Contre la Faim (ACF), 93100 Montreuil, France
| | - Severine Frison
- Research Unit, Expertise & Advocacy Department, Action Contre la Faim (ACF), 93100 Montreuil, France
| | - Matar Ba
- Action Contre la Faim, Dakar 29621, Senegal
| | | | | | - Martine Audibert
- Centre d’Études et de Recherches sur le Développement International (CERDI) CNRS-IRD-UCA, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Karine Chevreul
- ECEVE, UMR 1123, Université Paris Cité, Inserm, 75010 Paris, France
- Unité D’épidémiologique Clinique, Hôpital Robert Debré, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 75019 Paris, France
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Cichon B, López-Ejeda N, Mampindu MB, Bagayoko A, Samake M, Cuellar PC. Integration of Acute Malnutrition Treatment Into Integrated Community Case Management in Three Districts in Southern Mali: An Economic Evaluation. GLOBAL HEALTH, SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2024; 12:e2300431. [PMID: 38901972 PMCID: PMC11216703 DOI: 10.9745/ghsp-d-23-00431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Enabling community health workers (CHWs) to treat acute malnutrition improves treatment access and coverage. However, data on the cost and cost-effectiveness of this approach is limited. We aimed to cost the treatment at scale and determine the cost-effectiveness of different levels of supervision and technical support. METHODS This economic evaluation was part of a prospective nonrandomized community intervention study in 3 districts in Mali examining the impact of different levels of CHW and health center supervision and support on treatment outcomes for children with severe acute malnutrition. Treatment admission and outcome data were extracted from the records of 120 participating health centers and 169 CHW sites. Cost data were collected from accountancy records and through key informant interviews. Results were presented as cost per child treated and cured. Modeled scenario sensitivity analyses were conducted to determine how cost-efficiency and cost-effectiveness estimates change in an equal scale scenario and/or if the supervision had been done by government staff. RESULTS In the observed scenario, with an unequal number of children, the average cost per child treated was US$203.40 in Bafoulabé where a basic level of supervision and support was provided, US$279.90 in Kayes with a medium level of supervision, and US$253.9 in Kita with the highest level of supervision. Costs per child cured were US$303.90 in Bafoulabé, US$324.90 in Kayes, and US$311.80 in Kita, with overlapping uncertainty ranges. CONCLUSION Additional supervision has the potential to be a cost-effective strategy if supervision costs are reduced without compromising the quality of supervision. Further research should aim to better adapt the supervision model and associated tools to the context and investigate where efficiencies can be made in its delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Noemí López-Ejeda
- EPINUT Research Group, Unit of Physical Anthropology, Department of Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Aliou Bagayoko
- Nutrition Direction of the Ministry of Hygiene and Public Health, Bamako, Mali
| | - Mahamadou Samake
- Nutrition Direction of the Ministry of Hygiene and Public Health, Bamako, Mali
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Kangas ST, Ouédraogo CT, Tounkara M, Ouoluoguem B, Coulibaly IN, Haidara A, Diarra NH, Diassana K, Tausanovitch Z, Ritz C, Wells JC, Briend A, Myatt M, Radin E, Bailey J. Nutritional treatment of children 6-59 months with severely low weight-for-age z-score: a study protocol for a 3-arm randomized controlled trial. Trials 2024; 25:30. [PMID: 38191436 PMCID: PMC10773065 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-023-07890-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Admission criteria that treat children with low mid-upper-arm circumference (MUAC), and low weight-for-height z-score (WHZ) are not aligned with the evidence on which children are at risk of mortality. An analysis of community-based cohort data from Senegal found that a combination of weight-for-age (WAZ) and MUAC criteria identified all children at risk of near-term death associated with severe anthropometric deficits. This study will address whether children with WAZ <-3 but MUAC ≥125 mm benefit from therapeutic feeding with ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTF) and whether a simplified protocol is non-inferior to the weight-based standard protocol. METHODS This is a prospective individually randomized controlled 3-arm trial conducted in the Nara health district in Mali. Children aged 6-59 months presenting with MUAC ≥125 mm and WAZ <-3 will be randomized to (1) control group receiving no treatment, (2) simplified treatment receiving 1 sachet of RUTF daily until WAZ ≥-3 for 2 visits, (3) standard treatment receiving RUTF according to WHZ category: (a) WHZ <-3 receive 200 kcal/kg/day until WHZ ≥-2 for 2 visits, (b) WHZ ≥-3 but <-2 receive 1 sachet daily until WHZ ≥-2 for 2 visits or (c) WHZ ≥-2 receive no treatment. All children will be followed up first fortnightly for 12 weeks and then monthly until 6 months post-enrolment. The primary endpoint will be measured at 2 months with the primary outcome being WAZ as a continuous measure. Other outcomes include other anthropometric measurements and a secondary endpoint will be observed at 6 months. A total of 1397 children will be recruited including 209 in the control and 594 in both the simplified and standard arms. The sample size should enable us to conclude on the superiority of the simplified treatment compared to no treatment and on the non-inferiority of the simplified treatment versus standard treatment with a margin of non-inferiority of 0.2 WAZ. DISCUSSION This trial aims to generate new evidence on the benefit of treating children with WAZ <-3 but MUAC ≥125 mm in order to guide the choice of admission criteria to malnutrition treatment and build evidence on the most efficient treatment protocol. TRIAL REGISTRATION This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05248516 on February 21, 2022.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Moctar Tounkara
- Department of Education and Research in Public Health and Specialties, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Sciences, Technics and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako, Mali
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Christian Ritz
- National Institute of Public Health, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jonathan C Wells
- Population Policy and Practice Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - André Briend
- Department of International Health, University of Tampere School of Medicine, Tampere, Finland
- Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, Faculty of Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mark Myatt
- Brixton Health, Brixton, UK
- Emergency Nutrition Network, Kidlington, Oxforshire, UK
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Mdege ND, Masuku SD, Musakwa N, Chisala M, Tingum EN, Boachie MK, Shokraneh F. Costs and cost-effectiveness of treatment setting for children with wasting, oedema and growth failure/faltering: A systematic review. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 3:e0002551. [PMID: 37939029 PMCID: PMC10631642 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0002551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
This systematic review aimed to address the existing evidence gaps, and guide policy decisions on the settings within which to treat infants <12 months of age with growth faltering/failure, and infants and children aged <60 months with moderate wasting or severe wasting and/or bilateral pitting oedema. Twelve electronic databases were searched for studies published before 10 December 2021. The searches yielded 16,709 records from which 31 studies were eligible and included in the review. Three studies were judged as low quality, whilst 14 were moderate and the remaining 14 were high quality. We identified very few cost and cost-effectiveness analyses for most of the models of care with the certainty of evidence being judged at very low or low. However, there were 17 cost and 6 cost-effectiveness analyses for the initiation of treatment in outpatient settings for severe wasting and/or bilateral pitting oedema in infants and children <60 months of age. From this evidence, the costs appear lowest for initiating treatment in community settings, followed by initiating treatment in community and transferring to outpatient settings, initiating treatment in outpatients then transferring to community settings, initiating treatment in outpatient settings, and lastly initiating treatment in inpatient settings. In addition, the evidence suggested that initiation of treatment in outpatient settings is highly cost-effective when compared to doing nothing or no programme implementation scenarios, using country-specific WHO GDP per capita thresholds. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratios ranged from $20 to $145 per DALY averted from a provider perspective, and $68 to $161 per DALY averted from a societal perspective. However, the certainty of the evidence was judged as moderate because of comparisons to do nothing/ no programme scenarios which potentially limits the applicability of the evidence in real-world settings. There is therefore a need for evidence that compare the different available alternatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noreen Dadirai Mdege
- Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York, United Kingdom
- Centre for Research in Health and Development, York, United Kingdom
| | - Sithabiso D. Masuku
- Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Nozipho Musakwa
- Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Mphatso Chisala
- Department of Population, Policy and Practice, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Micheal Kofi Boachie
- Discipline of Public Health Medicine, School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Farhad Shokraneh
- Department of Evidence Synthesis, Systematic Review Consultants LTD, Nottingham, United Kingdom
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Effectiveness of Acute Malnutrition Treatment at Health Center and Community Levels with a Simplified, Combined Protocol in Mali: An Observational Cohort Study. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14224923. [PMID: 36432609 PMCID: PMC9699530 DOI: 10.3390/nu14224923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
A simplified, combined protocol was created that admits children with a mid-upper-arm circumference (MUAC) of <125 mm or edema to malnutrition treatment with ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) that involves prescribing two daily RUTF sachets to children with MUAC < 115 mm or edema and one daily sachet to those with 115 mm ≤ MUAC < 125 mm. This treatment was previously shown to result in non-inferior programmatic outcomes compared with standard treatment. We aimed at observing its effectiveness in a routine setting at scale, including via delivery by community health workers (CHWs). A total of 27,800 children were admitted to the simplified, combined treatment. Treatment resulted in a 92% overall recovery, with a mean length of stay of 40 days and a mean RUTF consumption of 62 sachets per child treated. Among children admitted with MUAC < 115 mm or edema, 87% recovered with a mean length of stay of 55 days and consuming an average of 96 RUTF sachets. The recovery in all sub-groups studied exceeded 85%. Treatment by CHWs resulted in a similar (94%) recovery to treatment by formal healthcare workers (92%). The simplified, combined protocol resulted in high recovery and low RUTF consumption per child treated and can safely be adopted by CHWs to provide treatment at the community level.
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Wrabel M, Stokes‐Walters R, King S, Funnell G, Stobaugh H. Programmatic adaptations to acute malnutrition screening and treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic. MATERNAL & CHILD NUTRITION 2022; 18:e13406. [PMID: 35929509 PMCID: PMC9480950 DOI: 10.1111/mcn.13406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic presented numerous challenges to acute malnutrition screening and treatment. To enable continued case identification and service delivery while minimising transmission risks, many organisations and governments implemented adaptations to community-based management of acute malnutrition (CMAM) programmes for children under 5. These included: Family mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC); modified admission and discharge criteria; modified dosage of therapeutic foods; and reduced frequency of follow-up visits. This paper presents qualitative findings from a larger mixed methods study to document practitioners' operational experiences and lessons learned from these adaptations. Findings reflect insights from 37 interviews representing 15 organisations in 17 countries, conducted between July 2020 and January 2021. Overall, interviewees indicated that adaptations were mostly well-accepted by staff, caregivers and communities. Family MUAC filled screening gaps linked to COVID-19 disruptions; however, challenges included long-term accuracy of caregiver measurements; implementing an intervention that could increase demand for inconsistent services; and limited guidance to monitor programme quality and impact. Modified admission and discharge criteria and modified dosage streamlined logistics and implementation with positive impacts on staff workload and caregiver understanding of the programme. Reduced frequency of visits enabled social distancing by minimising crowding at facilities and lessened caregivers' need to travel. Concerns remained about how adaptations impacted children's identification for and progress through treatment and programme outcomes. Most respondents anticipated reverting to standard protocols once transmission risks were mitigated. Further evidence, including multi-year programmatic data analysis and rigorous research, is needed in diverse contexts to understand adaptations' impacts, including how to ensure equity and mitigate unintended consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sarah King
- Action Against Hunger USAWashington, DCUSA
| | | | - Heather Stobaugh
- Action Against Hunger USAWashington, DCUSA
- Friedman School of Nutrition Science and PolicyTufts UniversityBostonMassachusettsUSA
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N'Diaye DS, Wassonguema B, Nikièma V, Kangas ST, Salpéteur C. Economic evaluation of a reduced dosage of ready-to-use therapeutic foods to treat uncomplicated severe acute malnourished children aged 6-59 months in Burkina Faso. MATERNAL AND CHILD NUTRITION 2021; 17:e13118. [PMID: 33621428 PMCID: PMC8189238 DOI: 10.1111/mcn.13118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Ready‐to‐use therapeutic foods (RUTF) used to treat children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) are costly, and the prescribed dosage has not been optimized. The MANGO trial, implemented by Action Contre la Faim in Burkina Faso, proved the non‐inferiority of a reduced RUTF dosage in community‐based treatment of uncomplicated SAM. We performed a cost‐minimization analysis to assess the economic impact of transitioning from the standard to the reduced RUTF dose. We used a decision‐analytic model to simulate a cohort of 399 children/arm, aged 6–59 months and receiving SAM treatment. We adopted a societal perspective: direct medical costs (drugs, materials and staff time), non‐medical costs (caregiver expenses) and indirect costs (productivity loss) in 2017 international US dollar were included. Data were collected through interviews with 35 caregivers and 20 informants selected through deliberate sampling and the review trial financial documents. The overall treatment cost for 399 children/arm was $36,550 with the standard and $30,411 with the reduced dose, leading to $6,140 (16.8%) in cost savings ($15.43 saved/child treated). The cost/consultation was $11.6 and $9.6 in the standard and reduced arms, respectively, with RUTF accounting for 56.2% and 47.0% of the total. The savings/child treated was $11.4 in a scenario simulating the Burkinabè routine SAM treatment outside clinical trial settings. The reduced RUTF dose tested in the MANGO trial resulted in significant cost savings for SAM treatment. These results are useful for decision makers to estimate potential economic gains from an optimized SAM treatment protocol in Burkina Faso and similar contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dieynaba S N'Diaye
- Research unit, Expertise & Advocacy Department, Action Contre la Faim, Paris, France
| | - Bibata Wassonguema
- Research unit, Expertise & Advocacy Department, Action Contre la Faim, Paris, France
| | | | - Suvi T Kangas
- Research unit, Expertise & Advocacy Department, Action Contre la Faim, Paris, France.,Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Cécile Salpéteur
- Research unit, Expertise & Advocacy Department, Action Contre la Faim, Paris, France
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