Little Josephine's Fight for Health and Hope: A Story of Resilience in Liberia
UNICEF and Nutrition Partners Help Combat Food Insecurity and Malnutrition for Children Across Liberia
Little Josephine's story is not unique to her community. It is the story of thousands of children in Liberia who struggle with food insecurity and malnutrition. But for her family, Josephine's story is their reality, and they are determined to fight for her health.
When UNICEF and nutrition partners from Action Against Hunger and the Nimba County Health team met Josephine two weeks ago, she was weak, sick, and tired. Her grandmother, Yorh Tokpa, shared her struggles with feeding her granddaughter, who was suffering from moderate acute malnutrition. Josephine's mother had passed away, and with no food at home, Yorh had to resort to washing clothes and cleaning homes for neighbors just to earn money to care for her family.
But Yorh and Josephine's aunt, Comfort Tokpah, were determined to save Josephine's life. They took her to St. Mary's Hospital, where they were given micronutrient powder packs and shown how to feed her three times a day. Yorh, who cannot read or write, was willing to learn how to take care of her granddaughter better.
Since they started using the micronutrient powder, Josephine's health has improved. She can now sit up, play with other children, and even chew her food. Comfort is confident that when they take Josephine back to the hospital for her return visit, the doctors will be surprised at how much she has improved.
Josephine's story is a reminder of the struggles that families in Liberia face in providing basic needs for their children. But it is also a story of hope and resilience, of a family's determination to fight for their loved one's health and future.
In Liberia, UNICEF supports the Government through Global Thematic Funds and other donors to provide Micronutrient Powder supplementation to children 6-23 months across the fifteen counties in both health facilities and communities.
