“We had three infants leave the hospital here with malnutrition. I was concerned they might not survive. So I recommended that the mothers add Moringa to their diet. Within a week the mothers started producing more milk, and now all three infants are thriving,” said the Dr. Deng Makur Mabeny who is the Director of Rumbek’s Health Institute.
“Before Cornelius came last year to teach us about Moringa, my extended family would make an average of two trips to the clinic each week. It was costly for us, and we paid with our chickens. We have been using Moringa now for ten months, and no one has had to go to the clinic,” said Nyandit in Rumbek. Nyandit is now selling Moringa powder, seeds, flowers and oil. Right is Nyandit in the blue dress.
“How many of you would teach someone even needier than yourselves how to grow and add Moringa to their diet?” I (Tom Prichard) asked a group from the “We Will Not Return” women’s group. These women were forcibly moved from Khartoum to South Sudan with only the clothes on their backs. Yet, every hand went up, as all the women, who have so little, showed their determination to help others.
“One mother was not producing enough milk for her newborn daughter. She took her baby to Juba (the capital) to get medical care. But nothing seemed to help. I recommended adding Moringa to their diet. Within a week, the mother and child were doing so much better. The family was so overjoyed that they offered to give me a bull in gratitude”, said Peter Wade in Rumbek.
“My chronic stomach problem has cleared up, and our trips to the clinic are one-half what they once were! I encourage everyone to plant Moringa and add it to their diet,” said Canon William Aguer of the Diocese of Aweil, the Episcopal Church of South Sudan. Pictured below are trees planted by Canon WIlliam with seeds given by Sudan Sunrise in 2019.
“Moringa gives us a new way to grow reconciliation! I am planning a mission to take the blessing of Moringa to the Nuer, with whom we Dinka have been in conflict. Not only can Moringa help the health of the Nuer, but it will also plant seeds of reconciliation between us.” said Bishop Abraham Nhial, author of “Lost Boy No More.”
“Our biggest challenge is to keep goats from eating the Moringa. But after the first 8 months, the trees are big enough to survive the drought and the goats,” said Cornelius Abass, who is doing fantastic work training and coordinating the Moringa project.
“Please come to my diocese and teach my clergy and women’s groups about Moringa!” said Bishop Abraham Ngor of the Diocese of Gogrial, Episcopal Church of South Sudan.
Note: Malnutrition is widespread in South Sudan, one of the poorest countries in the world. It would be unsustainable to supply vitamins to the whole population. However, the Moringa tree, which grows well in South Sudan and was introduced decades ago, has leaves that contain a wide range of vitamins and minerals. Thanks to a grant in memory of Dr. Reinhold Mankau by his widow Dr. Saroj Mankau, Sudan Sunrise has made it possible for us to provide millions of seeds, along with training.