Training Caregivers to Enhance Early Child Neurodevelopment in the Prevention of Konzo Disease from Toxic Cassava in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Konzo is an irreversible neurological disease of sudden onset with permanent partial paralysis in the legs. It is caused by chronic consumption of poorly processed cassava, that has high levels of cyanide, and affects mostly women and children. We are the first group to document neurocognitive affects in konzo, and disease risk in very young children. Brain development is affected much more and at an earlier stage than previously known. The DR Congo government, with the support of WHO, is beginning to train mothers in konzo outbreak regions to use a cassava processing wetting method (WTM) that can make remove the cyanide from the cassava flour before eaten. We will embed WTM training within Early Childhood Development (ECD) caregiver training that will better motivate the use of the WTM to save the family from konzo. This ECD program also gives moms practical strategies for stimulating cognitive/physical development while using WTM to save children's brains from cyanide in the food.