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MALI - Djadjo's
Journey to Recovery
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A
rewarding smile Djadjo is a seven year-old girl from Chatkambesa,
in the South of Gao in Mali. She and her family have been
affected by the current hunger crisis in Mali. In an area
already suffering from chronic poverty and food scarcity, severe
drought and last year’s plague of locusts have culminated in
poor agriculture production, scarcity of pasture for livestock
and high levels of malnutrition.
Djadjo showed symptoms of severe malnutrition, such as weakness,
tiredness, lack of energy, reduced physical activity and muscle
loss. She was immediately referred to our therapeutic feeding
centre in Gao to receive emergency treatment. On her arrival at
the centre, Djadjo was registered and examined. Djadjo is a
strong-willed little girl. She did not want to be weighed; she
repetitively scratched her arms and would not look at Clara, the
Action Against Hunger nurse working at the centre. |
© Gabriel
Villarrubia |
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However, Djadjo started to drink the therapeutic milk (F75) that
was given to her. The milk helps to stabilise basic bodily
functions. Once she regained her appetite, Clara gave Djadjo
another therapeutic milk (F100) as well as plumpy’nut, a peanut
paste, which helped her to gain weight rapidly. After 10 days,
Djadjo had already regained weight and strength, resuming her
natural smiling, happy self.
As
Djadjo’s condition improved quickly, she is able to continue her
treatment at home. Every week, a nurse visits her to give her
the plumpy’nut rations for the week and to monitor her status
and recovery. “When malnourished children arrive in our centres,
they are too weak to smile. To see a smile like Djadjo’s is the
most valuable and rewarding experience”, says Clara. |
©
Clara_Martí |
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Action Against Hunger in Mali Action Against Hunger teams treat
malnutrition of children under 5 years old in therapeutic and
supplementary feeding centres (therapeutic milk and nutrition
supplements) and support health centres to treat acute
malnutrition of children. The organisation also distributes food
including rice, oil and flour to families. Medicines and
vaccinations to livestock are being given out to prevent
diseases, which are likely to spread in the current rainy
season. Due to high risk of water contamination, Action Against
Hunger is protecting and rehabilitating wells, to ensure clean
water supplies for people and animals. |
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