For every child, a better start in life.
The first days of a child’s life, that’s where everything begins.
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In a small yard in Koursigué, a village in eastern Chad, everything is calm. If you listen closely, you can hear the gentle breathing of little Roumane, only seven days old, fast asleep in his mother’s arms. Sitting on a mat, Mariam Ibrahim, 25 years old, holds her newborn proudly, her face filled with tenderness and strength.
Mariam is the mother of two children. But during her second pregnancy, things were different. When she was expecting her first baby, she didn’t know about proper infant feeding practices or the importance of prenatal care.
From the very first days of my first child’s life, I gave him water and herbal infusions, far more than breastmilk, and he was often sick.
These practices, often rooted in tradition or shaped by a lack of information, can put children’s health and growth at risk, leaving them vulnerable to diarrhea, malnutrition, and even life-threatening complications.
To tackle these challenges and others, the German cooperation in Chad is funding activities to support pregnant women through the Sahel Resilience Partnership, jointly implemented by the World Food Programme, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and GIZ.
These community support initiatives give pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers the knowledge and care they need to better prepare for childbirth and to provide their newborns with the right care from the very first days of life, helping to reduce the risks of infant mortality.
Behind this transformation in Koursigué is the quiet yet essential work of Mahamat Adam and seven other community volunteers, trained by the NGO APRODEV with the support from UNICEF. Every day, they walk through the village and neighboring hamlets, meeting families, raising awareness, screening children for malnutrition, and tirelessly reminding mothers of the invaluable benefits of breast milk.
Most families adopt our advice. But for those who are still hesitant, we find other ways to win their trust.
Mahamat supported and advised Mariam throughout her pregnancy. He is the one she turned to during her prenatal visits at the health centre, and he is still the one she relies on for guidance at home. Thanks to his support, she learned about the importance of prenatal consultations, exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life, and vaccination.
“His advice really helped me. I had no problems during my pregnancy, or since then. He also recommended several vaccines for Roumane, and I will make sure he receives them,” says Mariam.
Sometimes, it is simple advice and care, given at the right moment, that changes life.
In Koursigué, these small, daily gestures are making a big difference, offering children a better start in life.
