Caring for children at risk
West Africa
Sadly, malnutrition affects children all over the world. However, in communities suffering from poverty, the risks from malnutrition are amplified. Worldwide, around 45% of deaths among children under the age of 5 are linked to undernutrition¹.
In West Africa, SIMaid is partnering with Caring for Kids to cure and prevent malnutrition in children. In a community where SIM has been working for many years, SIMaid’s Caring for Kids project provides holistic care to vulnerable children in a province impacted by poverty. The project provides nutritional rehabilitation and medical treatment to malnourished children, while also providing infant formula or regular whole milk powder to orphans.
As well as administering milk and medication to the children, Caring for Kids seeks to educate mothers around nutrition, health and hygiene as a preventative action. With a desire to display the love of Jesus, Caring for Kids seeks to meet the urgent needs of malnourished children and empower mothers to care for their families. Roger is one child who has overcome severe malnutrition after receiving vital help from the Caring for Kids team.
Roger
In June, a 10-month-old boy named Roger was admitted to the Caring for Kids centre. He was suffering from severe malnutrition and weighed 6.5kg. He was 68cm tall and had a mid-upper arm circumference of only 100mm. Roger didn’t have any associated medical complications, so the team assessed that he could be treated at home. Where possible, the team prefer recovery at home as it is better for both the child and family.
The Caring for Kids team supplied Roger’s mother with an enriched peanut paste that provided good nutrition to help Roger gain weight. He was scheduled for weekly follow-up appointments to check on his progress and to also receive new supplies of the paste. After only one month of treatment, Roger was healed from severe malnutrition and weighed 8.0 kg with a mid-upper arm circumference of 130 mm.
He will continue to visit the centre every two weeks for a 3-month period of consolidation. During this time, he will continue to receive nutritious food and he will be weighed to track his progress.
Do you want to support vulnerable children in West Africa like Roger? Consider giving toward Caring for Kids by visiting our donation page, selecting the office nearest you, and using project number 93291.
Pray with us
• Pray for the children involved in Caring for Kids, that they can get adequate nutrition, love, and care. Ask God to equip and provide for these families.
• Pray for continued recovery for Roger and strength for his mother.
¹ WHO, 2020
First published at SIM Australia.
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