Nutrition for life

This week we have an article from the community Tilal Ibrahim  writes for the blog from North Sudan.

Hamid, a 5-month-old baby, was in terrible condition when he arrived at Hamesh Koreb Health Center. The struggling infant was immediately checked by a doctor, who diagnosed Hamid as suffering from severe acute malnutrition and a serious case of diarrhea.

He was referred to the Samaritan’s Purse nutrition department for further medical care and attention. The nutrition team immediately went to work, giving Hamid life-saving medication to stop the diarrhea, and essential food to stabilize his acute malnutrition.

Hamid was started on a strict regimen of fortified milk and vitamins every three hours, day and night, until his status approved. After 10 days, he was able to ingest another fortified milk suppliment given once the infant reached a certain weight, which the nutrition staff gave him for another seven days.

Insaf, one of the nutritionists looking after his case, rejoiced as Hamid’s condition improved.

“He started playing, laughing and crying like a normal baby,” she said. “I feel happy when seeing his health improve. During these days I used to visit him many times even during the night.”

Hamid is the fourth child for his mother, Madina, who is only 22. The baby has scars throughout his belly from the family’s attempts to treat him through the local healers. When their efforts continued to fail and his conditioned worsened, they brought him to the hospital.

The Samaritan’s Purse nutrition program is currently serving 300 children in Hamesh Koreb (a town about 300 miles northeast of Khartoum) and surrounding villages. The work is done through a partnership with local government and UNICEF. The team works tirelessly to give kids like Hamid a second chance at life. Our staff are excited that the program is expanding into new villages in 2011.

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Tilal Ibrahim

What I find interesting is how childrens' stories on this continent are the same. Different languages, cultures, religions but the problems the children on this continent face are the same. This is a story of hope but what of the million other Hamids who do not make it to the health center.
Did anyone else notice that Hamid's mother is 22. She is 22 and has four children. I would give anything to sit with her and just find out what her own dreams are and what she wishes for her children.