One Sachet, One Survival: The Impact of Canada’s Support in Cameroon

The story of Satou and her daughter Zina illustrates the direct and tangible impact of this essential collaboration between Canada, UNICEF, and local communities.

Early that morning, the sun had barely risen when Satou arrived at the Maga health centre in Cameroon’s Far North region. She held tightly to the small hand of Zina, fragile and quiet. Under the centre’s awning, dozens of mothers were already waiting, babies tied to their backs or clinging to their dresses. The air was filled with murmurs, the soft cries of infants, and a palpable sense of expectation. They had all come seeking the same thing: a chance to save their child.

Across the regions supported by the project, from the Far North to the East, through Adamawa, the North-West, and the South-West, the situation remains concerning. In some areas hosting internally displaced persons and Central African refugees, the prevalence of severe acute malnutrition exceeds the 2% emergency threshold, revealing persistent fragility. Nationally, an estimated 80,000 children were suffering from severe acute malnutrition in 2025, underscoring the scale of the challenge.

That day in Maga, nearly eighty children were expected for nutritional screening, vaccination, and follow-up care. In the busy flow of mothers and infants, Roukayatou, the nurse in charge, called families one by one. When Zina’s turn came, she gently wrapped the MUAC tape around the little girl’s upper arm. The red zone appeared instantly. Satou’s heart tightened, but Roukayatou offered her a reassuring smile. 

“Courage, Mama… She will be fine,” she whispered, opening a sachet of RUTF made available through Canada’s support.

Around the centre, activity was in full swing. Moussa, a community health worker, explained to the mothers the importance of giving each sachet every day without interruption. Among them was Zaraitou, whose child had recovered a few months earlier thanks to the same programme. She nodded quietly, grateful for the treatment that had saved her own baby.

For UNICEF, the impact of Canada’s contribution is unmistakable. 

“The support of the Government of Canada allows us to maintain essential access to treatment for severe acute malnutrition in some of the most affected areas of the country. The 14,000 cartons of RUTF provided have helped save and stabilize thousands of children across 33 health districts,” explains Aimé Namululi, UNICEF Nutrition Specialist.

He also emphasizes the importance of monitoring children’s progress: 

“When we see a child move from red to yellow, and then to green, we also see a family regain hope. Already, more than 14,840 children have been treated thanks to Canadian funding. Each child represents a victory.”

One week after beginning treatment, Satou returned to the centre with Zina. This time, the little girl walked on her own, sometimes stumbling, sometimes giggling as she tugged at her mother’s skirt. The MUAC tape confirmed what Satou could already see: the yellow zone had replaced the red. Overwhelmed with relief, Satou let out a smile that said everything. 

“She plays again, she even asks for food,” she said.

Global Affairs Canada provides this nutrition support through the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF), a UNICEF-led financing mechanism designed to sustainably expand policies, programmes, and supply chains that prevent, detect, and treat malnutrition among children and women. The Fund aims to transform the way the world finances essential nutritional actions, ensuring long-term, systemic impact.

Across the five regions supported by Canada, every child like Zina is a reminder of a simple truth: one sachet of RUTF can save a life. Behind each sachet is a strong partnership, committed to supporting health workers and professionals dedicated to ensuring that hope passes through the doors of health centres every single day. Because here, every recovered smile is not just a healing, it is a future restored.