Malnutrition: a refugee mother’s fight to save her premature twins

A Childhood Shattered by Exile and Early Marriage

Raihanna was still a teenager when her life was turned upside down. In 2014, fleeing the crisis in the Central African Republic, her family found refuge in Cameroon, hoping to provide her with protection and safety. However, just a few years later, Raihanna's fate mirrored that of many young girls in the eastern region: she was married at the age of just 14. From this forced union, she became pregnant. Shortly after, her husband abandoned her, disappearing without a trace. Alone and vulnerable, she returned to live with her parents, already bearing the burden of motherhood that she had not chosen.

Two Births, Then Fear

Raihanna gave birth to two beautiful twin girls, Halima and Halmata. For the first few months, everything seemed to be going well. But in October 2025, when the twins were barely 21 months old, a troubling detail shattered this fragile calm: the little girls were no longer gaining weight. Their bellies swelled, their bodies weakened, and their faces turned pale. Confused and scared, she did not understand what was happening. Lacking resources and paralysed by fear, she hesitated to go to the hospital. Her anxiety grew day by day.

A Helping Hand at the Right Time

Eventually, Raihanna turned to a local association for help. The Association of Women for the Promotion of Moral Leadership (FEPLEM) includes members who have received training in nutrition and other protection issues through UNICEF. Her plea for assistance did not go unanswered. FEPLEM, a civil society organisation, receives support from UNICEF through the Framework for Collaboration for the Support, Monitoring, and Supervision of Associations Providing Community Protection, Nutrition, and Health Services. Thanks to this initiative, Raihanna saw a glimmer of hope, although that hope was still mingled with fear.

"The president of the association told me to go very early the next morning to the Inpatient Therapeutic Nutrition Centre (CNTI) at Bertoua Regional Hospital," she says hesitantly, before adding, almost in a whisper:
" I told her okay... but I didn't know if the girls would wake up."

The Vital Emergency: Saving the Twins

At dawn, the twins, still clinging to life, arrive at the hospital. The diagnosis is severe acute malnutrition, which comes as no surprise. Treatment begins immediately. Thanks to the support of various partners, notably Canada through the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF), UNICEF assists the CNTI at Bertoua Regional Hospital. The program offers comprehensive care, including tailored nutritional protocols and free medication to address medical complications.

For more than 14 days, Halima and Halmata receive F75 therapeutic milk and then move on to F100, along with antibiotics. Gradually, their bodies regain strength. Although the fight is not over, the threat of death, which once loomed large, is receding, and life is taking hold. When they arrived, Halima weighed 6.25 kg and left weighing 7.8 kg, while Halmata weighed 6.8 kg upon arrival and 7.5 kg when she left.

Healing and Rebuilding

After their hospitalisation, the twins return home. Their mother, Raïhanna, continues their treatment on an outpatient basis at the health centre with Plumpy'nut to consolidate the progress made. However, UNICEF's support does not end there. Saving children from malnutrition also means ensuring that their mothers can provide long-term care for them. Raïhanna receives training on how to prepare "5-star porridge," an enriched meal providing essential nutrients for child development, made from five food groups using local products. Additionally, she receives support in the form of peanut paste and crushed cassava to start an income-generating activity.

A Renewed Hope for the Future

The changes in Raïhanna's life and that of her daughters are rapid and visible. Raïhanna proudly shares, 

"I give them 5-star porridge, and you can already see them running around." She adds emotionally, "With my business, I can buy them clothes and shoes. I had nothing before... today, it's different." With gratitude shining on her face, she concludes, "May God bless you infinitely."

The urgent need for action remains

This recognition highlights the significant impact of UNICEF's efforts, made possible through the support of the Child Nutrition Fund and FEPLEM. It reflects our ongoing commitment to improving children's nutritional health in eastern Cameroon. However, it also serves as a reminder of the critical need to expand and strengthen these initiatives to effectively address cases of severe acute malnutrition and to prevent this issue long-term by encouraging proper feeding practices for all children in Cameroon. Too many children start their fight for life at a young age, and far too often, they do not succeed. Thanks to the generous support from @CanadaDev to the Child Nutrition Fund, UNICEF and its partners are providing children with ready-to-use therapeutic foods that have saved their lives. Our collective efforts are paving the way for a brighter future! #CNF #Nutrition #Future