Niger nutrition programme in action: Saratou's story
Monday, 2 October 2006
Twenty year old Zeinabou had been ill for weeks. Her second daughter, Saratou, 20 months old, was also sick - very sick, having fallen ill soon after she had been weaned. For three months her mother had tried to care for her, but to no avail.
Zeinabou is from Nagaro, a village in Illela district, Niger. This village is in the catchment area of Concern Worldwide's Emergency Nutrition Programme. Aware of the nutritional support Concern was providing at its site in Yama, her grandmother immediately brought Zeinabou and Saratou to the weekly distribution site.
On July 11 2006, Saratou was observed by a Concern mobile nutrition team and was directly transferred to Concern's stabilisation centre (Creni in French) for severely malnourished children in Tahoua. Mariama Mohamed, the head nurse on the Illela mobile team remembers Zeinabou and Saratou at the Yama site:
"Zeinabou was very sad", she said. "She was crying. She was very scared for Saratou. But she was not like most mothers who need persuading to transfer their children to the Creni. When we offered to send Saratou to the Creni, she did not hesitate. Saratou was so sick I was not sure she would survive the 1 ½ hour journey on rough roads to the Creni."
Zeinabou remembers calling to Saratou during the ride and gently tapping her on the back to make sure she was still alive.
Saratou was admitted to the Creni weighing 4.1 kg, less than half the healthy weight for a child of her age and height. With constant care and treatment from Concern's dedicated staff, Saratou began to demonstrate a dramatic recovery. 41 days after admission, and having attained a healthy weight of 7.8 kg, Saratou was discharged. Saratou is now a healthy, curious, and very playful child.
The spectacular recovery of Saratou is almost unbelievable for those who knew her when she was severely malnourished. Zeinabou's uncle was rendered utterly speechless when he visited his niece at the Creni. Zeinabou remembers how he found it hard to believe the child he held was Saratou. He could not speak. He just kept saying "God is great! God is great!"
When Mariama, the Illela nurse, saw Saratou before discharge, she was delighted. "God is great. I can not believe this is the same child. Had I not seen her mother with her, I would not believe this is the child I saw at Yama". Mariama could not take her eyes off the beautiful child. Neither she nor Zeinabou could stop laughing from the pure pleasure of watching the toddler career around the Creni.
Zeinabou was excited to be returning to Nagaro to see her grandmother. Her grandmother had received news of the recovery, but had not yet seen her great granddaughter. "She will cry tears of joy when she sees Saratou" says Zeinabou.
Once back with her family, Zeinabou hopes to share the knowledge she has learned during her stay at the Creni with other mothers in her village. She found information regarding hygiene the most beneficial. She says there are other malnourished children in her village, although she knows of no cases as severe as Saratou's. She hopes she may be able to help them by sharing what she learned from Concern staff. Zeinabou smiles and says, "I am just so thankful for what Concern has done for my daughter. I am so grateful".
