Bismarck’s parents worked on their farm until his father was killed in the crossfire of nearby armed conflict. Bismarck’s mother, Chodelia, fled their home with him and his siblings, fearing for their lives and leaving their financial security behind. With no income and little food, Bismarck became severely malnourished.
Things could have turned out badly for Bismark. But thanks to the support of our global community, his story has a happy ending.
An International Medical Corps-trained community health worker found out about Bismarck’s problems during a door-to-door screening programme and referred him to an International Medical Corps-supported nutrition center. There, he received lifesaving treatment, specialised nutritious food and vaccinations. We also gave his mother the tools and training to keep him healthy at home. Today, Bismarck is thriving.
“It has always been my wish to see my son this strong,” Chodelia says. “I was scared that he might die. Learning from International Medical Corps has been a great help to my family. In addition to receiving free medications and care, I have learned much during this process.”
Sadly, Bismarck is just one of 1.4 million displaced people in Cameroon—a situation caused by ongoing armed conflict. Ezekiel is also part of a family whose life was disrupted because of the fighting. His grandmother, Mercy, was caring for him and attending one of our support-group meetings when she learned of our therapeutic feeding programme near her village. When she brought Ezekiel for treatment, our staff discovered that he was suffering from severe acute malnutrition. Our team administered medication and therapeutic food while conducting home visits. After three months, Ezekiel’s health greatly improved.
After he recovered and Mercy attended our demonstrations on how to prepare nutritious meals for her grandson, Mercy says, “I can now monitor the nutritional status of my child and prepare well-balanced meals for my family. I have learned a lot through this journey.”