Malnutrition

Children starved of nutrients

Malnutrition is the most urgent concern for children in times of draught and famine.

Malnourished children are especially vulnerable to diseases like malaria, pneumonia and diarrhoea.

Critical food shortages combined with poor sanitation - from lack of clean water - can result in sight-destroying trachoma.

At its worst, when children’s bodies are so starved of nutrients, they develop pellagra.

Pellagra is the result of severe niacin deficiency, and has devastating effects the central nervous system - damaging brain and nerve function.

Moses and his miracle!

Moses has a family who loves him and did the best they could for him. They just didn't the have resources they desperately needed. They didn't know there was a clinic nearby. They didn't know there was hope.

But there was help and there was hope!

Moses was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. As the disease began to affect Moses more and more, he was forced to drop out of school since he just couldn't keep up physically or mentally.

While it is not curable ... CP is treatable! Moses was given physiotherapy, given a healthy diet. He and his family were given counseling. His parents were taught how to best care for him. They were taught about proper nutrition.

Following his treatment (after about a year), he has been able to return to school and is incredibly happy to be back with friends!

This is what was in a report sent to us about a year later: Moses is a very happy young man. To look at him, sometimes it's very hard to tell that he has had to struggle with such a disability all his life. Moses will continue to be reviewed by the physiotherapist to ensure his continued improvement. He will receive the care he needs for however long it is needed.

Moses is in Primary three at school and so happy to be there!

Because there is such a stark difference in the before and after photos, we checked several times to make sure both pictures were indeed the same young boy!


 

Facts about malnutrition