Thaodavon’s Journey Back to Health and School

In the village of Thongchalern, a wooden house sticks out from the wide expanse of green rice paddies. Houses like these are a common sight throughout the Southeast Asian nation of Laos and this one in particular belongs to a 38-year-old farmer, Nouphone Chanthavong.

In this peaceful village, the mornings usually kick off with the hubbub of children making their way to school. However, this seemingly ordinary morning routine suddenly felt out of reach for Nouphone’s youngest son. At only five years old, Thaodavon was diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition (SAM), a life-threatening condition that continues to affect thousands of children across Laos.

“When my son became sick, we were so worried and scared,” Nouphone recalls, her voice quaking with emotion. “He couldn’t stand, eat or play like other children, and we didn’t know what to do to help. We didn’t have enough money to take him to a hospital,” she added.

The once-active Thaodavon slowly grew too weak to walk, was constantly tired and often woke up drenched in sweat throughout the night. Desperate for help, his parents carried him to the nearby Thongchalern Health Centre—their last resort despite the family’s financial constraints.

“He was very weak but we were ready to help,” said Duangsamone, an experienced health worker, recalling the day when Thaodavon was rushed to her health centre.

Duangsamone had actually recently completed a training on how to treat children with malnutrition and she knew precisely the steps needed to be taken when she saw Thaodavon’s condition. Through Duangsamone’s skillful care, steady supplies of ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) and close monitoring, Thadavon’s condition eventually improved.

“It was like a miracle,” said Nouphone reflecting on the rapid improvement in her son’s health. “Day by day, we saw him getting stronger. Now, he is even back in school!”

Today, Thaodavon has regained both his strength and confidence. His laughter comes more readily again, echoing alongside those of his friends as they play in the yard or in the morning as he marches off to school.

Thanks to a nutrition prevention programme led by UNICEF—with financial support from the European Union and the Government of China—health workers like Duangsamone have received trained on how to recognise and treat malnutrition early, thereby helping to save the lives of children like Thaodavon. The initiative is implemented by Lao Friends Hospital for Children and the trainings provided form part of the Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM) approach, which UNICEF and partners have scaled up in targeted provinces.

By training frontline workers and ensuring clinics are stocked with lifesaving supplies, UNICEF and its partners are enabling families to find effective care close to home without falling into debt or travelling long distances - for families like the Nouphone Chanthavong’s, this difference can be life-changing.