Zaina Masoka’s three-year-old boy Musafiri was suffering from a common set of ailments. Like many in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Zaina and her family were seeking safety with minimal access to healthcare. So, when Musafiri stopped eating due to a lack of appetite, his mother was alarmed but had no immediate way to help her son. Without treatment, Musafiri became so malnourished that he was no longer able to walk, stand or even crawl. Concerned about her grandson’s health, Zaina’s mother suggested that they take her son to the Katanga health center, where International Medical Corps staff were caring for people suffering from malnutrition.
By the time they arrived, Musafiri had already gone five days without eating. Our team immediately transferred him to the intensive therapeutic nutrition unit for treatment (ITNU) at the International Medical Corps-supported Baraka Hospital, where staff treated him with food and medication. Musafiri underwent 14 days of treatment in the ITNU and then returned to the Katanga health centre for further nutritional assistance.
“My son has regained his good health,” Masoka says. “He is walking again and eating properly. He is doing well and even playing with his friends.”
To help mothers like Masoka keep their children healthy and nourished, our team in the DRC also conducts cooking demonstrations in which we offer information on safe food preparation and healthy, locally sourced food. These demonstrations help families plan and prepare meals that will provide vital nutrients for healthy development.
