Stories
December 20, 2024 • 2 min read
Thirteen-month-old boy Million Kahesay lives in a small village in Tigray, Ethiopia. Like many others, Million's family rely on their small farm for daily sustenance. His mother, Netsanet G/Mariam, works tirelessly to provide for her family, but the challenges they face are daunting. The impact of two years of conflict and recent drought have limited their ability to access nutritious food.
Plagued with guilt and anger
It wasn’t long before these challenges started to affect Million’s health. Unable to source nutritious food, Million fell ill with edema, a condition requiring urgent medical attention. His health deteriorated, leaving his mother Netsanet plagued with guilt and anger.
“When I saw his swollen feet, fragile body, and cracked skin, I feared that I was almost losing him as there was nothing left to feed him. I felt powerless until he was referred to the health centre” Netsanet says.
Life-saving intervention
When Million arrived at the health centre, he was exhibiting serious signs of malnutrition. His feet and hands were swollen, and his weight had plummeted to 6.8 kg. immediately recognised the urgency of his situation and promptly enrolled him in the Therapeutic Feeding Program (OTP) – an emergency intervention which provides nutritious food and regular follow up. Million then began receiving ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF), along with routine medical treatment and weekly monitoring to track his progress.
Over the course of five weeks, Million underwent life-saving treatment and care, gradually improving his condition. at the centre worked tirelessly to ensure his recovery, and thankfully, the signs of Edema soon began to subside. With each passing week, Million’s health improved, and he was eventually discharged from the feeding program, now at a healthy weight.
Ongoing support
Upon his discharge, Million’s family was connected to the JEOP general food distribution programme to ensure Million’s progress continued. Million’s family received a month’s supply of , addressing their immediate nutritional needs and helping to prevent future food insecurity.
Before receiving this vital assistance, Million’s family faced numerous hardships, including food scarcity and poor nutrition, leading to frequent illnesses. However, the support from the has brought about a remarkable transformation in their lives.
“Nothing makes me prouder than to see the difference that we made in the communities life – Million is one of the community members whose life is saved through the intervention. I would like to thank the donor for their technical support to successfully implement this project. I hope the support will reach more families in the future and assist a transition to better life and for them to become resilient”. Guadie Abye, GOAL’s JEOP Project Manager, says.
Your support this Christmas can help support children like Million. A donation today can help treat malnutrition and save the lives of babies in urgent need. Please give what you can today.
