That’s exactly what the health staff at this clinic in Nigeria did when baby Umara arrived. The seven-month-old weighed four kilograms, was severely malnourished and dehydrated.
UNICEF acted quickly. Umara was given life-saving treatment of therapeutic food, vitamin A, antibiotics and anti-malarial medicine. His mum went home with packets of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food, a peanut-based paste that’s high in calories, vitamins and minerals and can bring a child back to health
fast.
"When Umara came for the third visit, he was looking okay," says UNICEF Nutrition Officer Aishat Mohammed Abdullahi. "He was playing, laughing, he does not have any problem." © UNICEF Nigeria/Vittozzi
A few weeks later, a lot has changed. Umara has put on more than a kilogram, his arm circumference has grown and he’s lively and cheerful again. He’s still malnourished but his incredible improvement has the health staff optimistic that he’ll make a full recovery. And Mum’s smiling for the first time in three weeks.
“He can play, eat and drink now! He is not being sick anymore. He is so happy!”
- Umara's mother