Silent Battles and Victories Against Malnutrition

In the quiet village of Nakhern, a 13-month baby boy, Mackthiew, lives with his parents in a modest rural home, hemmed in by the green rugged mountains of Luang Prabang – the former capital seat of Laos. But despite this seemingly idyllic setting, Mackthiew is struggling with a silent battle, one shared by many other young children in rural communities.

When a team from the Lao Friends Hospital for Children visited Nakhern for their routine health and nutrition inspection of children, they noticed that Mackthiew was not growing as expected. His weight and height were below the healthy range and the verdict - malnutrition. If his condition was left untreated any longer, it could have serious long-term effects for Mackthiew.

When they saw this, the team from the Lao Friends Hospital for Children, along with local health staff and village health volunteers, stepped in immediately. With support from UNICEF, they provided Mackthiew’s mother with Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), a life-saving supplement designed specifically for malnourished children like him. The health workers also taught Mackthiew ‘s mother how to feed the supplement provided to her son and how to prepare nutritious porridge at home using locally available ingredients.

Slowly but surely, through a series of follow-up visits to the health centre, Mackthiew’s condition improved as he began to gain more weight and recover his energy. His parents also received some money to cover their transportation costs to help bring Mackthiew to the health centre as well, ensuring that both distance and finance would not be barriers for Mackthiew’s health.

Mackthiew’s condition was later reassessed by the Lao Friends Hospital for Children team during one of their visits and for the first time, his measurements showed he had reached a healthy nutritional status. He was no longer malnourished and emerged a victor in his struggle with malnutrition.

Today, Mackthiew continues to be regularly monitored by local health volunteers but his recovery progress is strong. His mother is also taking part in activities organised by the local club focusing on Maternal, Infant, and Young Child Feeding (MIYCF) where she is learning how to give Mackthiew the best possible start in life, including proper breastfeeding.

And behind it all is a coordinated effort powered by local healthcare workers through the support of UNICEF and partners like the European Union and the Government of China. This support includes training for health workers like Duangsamone and the provision of lifesaving nutrition supplies, enabling families to find effective care close to home without falling into debt or travelling long distances. For families like Nouphone’s, this difference can be life-changing.