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14 April 2025

Racing against malnutrition in Goma

Since January 2025, life has become even more difficult for displaced families in Goma, the provincial capital of North Kivu in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). After the new de facto authorities ordered displacement sites to be dismantled, many families were forced to return to their areas of o...
05 August 2024

A simple recipe to prevent malnutrition

Sitting next to her large steaming pot, Solange never tires of explaining to families how to prepare rich and balanced recipes using accessible ingredients. “We organize a session each month on preparing nutritious porridge and then we visit families to ensure parents follow the instructions,” she says enthusiasti...
16 July 2024

Combating malnutrition in Walikale

In Walikale in North Kivu in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Rebecca holds her two-year-old son Elenga in her arms, a radiant smile on her face. This smile is hard-earned because only a few months ago, Elenga fell ill in a way his mother just couldn't fathom. “When his belly and feet started to swe...
26 September 2023

The road to recovery from severe acute malnutrition

When Wilodja was brought to the Kaziba General Hospital in South Kivu province, the little boy weighed just over 7 kilos - well below the recommended 11-12 kilos for an 18-month-old boy. His little brother Chiruza, 7 months old, was also very weak, weighing 4.8 kilos when he should weigh around 8 kilos. "Community...
11 June 2023

Malnutrition: from red to green

If 19-month-old Boniface's arm circumference is now in the green, this was not the case just a few weeks ago. "When I became pregnant when Boniface was 7 months old, his health began to deteriorate," recalls Ngalula, who had no idea of the seriousness of the situation. "I thought my son was just being jealous beca...
13 October 2022

Cash transfers continue to improve child nutrition in Manono

When Solange’s little girl was 2 years old and suffering from severe acute malnutrition, she decided to take the situation in hand, as her husband did not have a regular source of income. Thanks to UNICEF cash transfers, Solange began her own business. « I decided to raise goats», said the mom. des chèvres dans le...
26 September 2022

Empower mothers to improve the dietary diversity of children

In the Tanganyika province, as is the case elsewhere in the country, it is mothers who bring their children to the health centre when they are sick, and who take care of the children during their recovery. When Lita, 4 years old, was diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition in a health centre supported by Manono i...
06 April 2022

Detect – Treat – Prevent

UNICEF is working with hundreds of community outreach workers to detect cases of malnutrition. It was a community outreach worker in the Walikale territory who found 4 year old Dieu suffering from malnutrition. "My son was not well", recalled his mother Zuena. Thanks to a graduated bracelet – also known as a bra...
28 March 2022

Exploring the gender determinants of malnutrition in children in Kabalo

The objective of this analysis is to understand the gender related factors that influence child malnutrition in the Kabalo health zone, Tanganyika. It also aims to explore the gendered factors that influence malnutrition, including gender dynamics around feeding practices, division of labour, household and unpaid ...
24 December 2021

A mother and daughter’s battle against malnutrition

"A month ago , my daughter’s health started to deteriorate , she lost appetite", declares Imani Bitendo, a mother who lives in a village located in Mwenga territory in South-Kivu province. The little Esther was always joyful, but after a while she became very weak and couldn’t smile anymore. Based on the tips give...
17 November 2021

Fighting malnutrition and ensuring a healthier future

UVIRA TERRITORY, SOUTH KIVU PROVINCE , – Full of joy and relief, Marita looks at her little girl who, a few weeks ago, was extremely weak. "She could no longer stand or play," the mother recalls. It was thanks to therapeutic food received at a UNICEF-supported health centre that the little girl - who had been suff...
18 October 2021

Treating and preventing malnutrition

Just a few weeks ago, 2-year-old Gadi's health began to deteriorate. The normally happy little boy had lost his appetite and was visibly losing weight. “I was getting more and more worried about Gadi's health”, recalls Gadi's mother, Béatrice, who felt completely helpless as she could not afford to take her son to...