Hope on the Horizon
The Ongoing Journey of Nutrition for Souksamay
In the striking orange dirt roads of Namkhong Village, a mother watches with pride as her daughter, Souksamay, plays in the sun. The transformation of this little girl, who struggled to eat just earlier this year, is a testament of commitment, love, and generosity from the most unexpected of places.
Souksamay, now 1 year and 6 months old, is the fourth child in her family, with a new baby sister, Xaysouanoy, born just three months ago. Like many others in the village, her parents are farmers, tending to rice fields and cultivating a variety of vegetables like pumpkin, eggplant, taro and potatoes. Their cassava garden serves as the family's primary source of income, bringing in approximately 12 million Laotian Kip annually (around $550 USD) for the family to split among the many needs of their growing children.
In February this year, a visit from Felix, a member of a popular Korean boy band, Stray Kids, changed the course of Souksamay’s life. With a generous donation of 100 million South Korean Won to support nutrition and water and sanitation health related programmes for families in Southern Laos, he had visited Namkhong Village to participate in community health outreach activities.
There, he met with Souksamay who looked frail and thin, and was diagnosed with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) following a series of tests measuring her height, weight and Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC).
“All my other children ate well without issues,” states Ms. Tan when reminiscing about the time of Felix’s visit. Despite being born small, Souksamay had no underlying health issues but her continued disinterest in food and play caused much worry for the concerned mother. That’s when, sitting alongside Felix, young Souksamay was prescribed Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) and feeding guidelines provided by the UNICEF-supported staff at the Viengxay Health Centre.
Thankfully, Souksamay accepted the nutrient-rich paste and gradually started to eat. “When I saw her eat well, I felt so happy,” her mother recalls with relief as she described the following weeks when she spoon-fed her daughter two and a half sachets of RUTF per day.
As however the busy rice harvest season approached, the family’s routine naturally shifted and many weeks went by before Ms. Tan was able to take Souksamay back to the health centre. Unsure of the results but having observed her child doing much better, the mother-daughter duo was met with pleasant news with Souksamay close to full recovery thanks to the support from UNICEF and health workers.
Dr. Daophasay Chandavong, senior midwife at the Viengxay Health Centre, offered further guidance on tracking Souksamay’s growth and emphasised the importance of a balanced meal with fish, vegetables and proteins. While praising the mother on her daughter’s improved health, she reiterated the need for continued work with more attention on Souksamay’s feeding habits.
Today, as Souksamay plays under the watchful eye of her family, her mother reflects on the journey since their encounter with the “pretty boy with golden hair”. With a renewed sense of hope, she promises to continue the journey of nutrition for her daughter.
The situation in Laos is stark, with over one in ten children suffering from wasting and over one third suffering from stunting. But there is hope: with the support of UNICEF, the dedication of health workers, and the kindness of people like Felix, many mothers like Ms. Tan can rest assured that their children are on a path toward a healthy and happy future.
For more about Souksamay and Felix’s encounter, please see UNICEF Login Laos, Stray Kids Felix Episode 2 here:
