The Miracle of Survival: Korvah’s Triumph Over Malnutrition

In the heart of Sappimah Community, nestled in the southwest of Bopolu City, a three-year-old boy named Korvah Varmah greets us with a smile that is as radiant as the setting sun. His mother, Yarmah Sumoh, has just returned with him from their peanut farm, their faces glowing with the satisfaction of a hard day’s work.

Yarmah fondly refers to her son as “Survival”. It’s a name that carries a story of resilience and hope. Korvah was born underweight and for the first two weeks of his life, he rejected breastfeeding. His health began to deteriorate rapidly. As a first-time mother, Yarmah was terrified and felt helpless. She tried feeding him with ‘Me & My Powder Milk’, but it didn’t seem to help.

Just when Yarmah was on the brink of despair, a friend told her about a unit at the local hospital, supported by UNICEF, dedicated to helping underweight and malnourished children. This friend’s child had been treated there and had recovered quickly. Clinging to this glimmer of hope, Yarmah took Korvah to the feeding center in November 2020.

The nurses at the center conducted several tests and assured Yarmah that Korvah would recover if she could stay at the center for a few days. Yarmah agreed, and Korvah was admitted to the Specialized Nutrition Unit (SNU). The nurses fed him with F75 and F100 therapeutic milk every hour.

Within a few days, Korvah began to show signs of improvement. He started making sounds and moving his hands. After 14 days, they were discharged. The nurses provided them with a week’s supply of Plumpy’ nuts, a ready-to-use therapeutic food. Korvah’s health continued to improve. He gained weight, became more active, and started eating regularly.

For the next two months, Yarmah and Korvah regularly visited the center for check-ups and additional supplies of Plumpy’ nuts. Yarmah is grateful for the support UNICEF provided to her son.

Today, Korvah, or “Survival” as he is lovingly called, is a healthy, lively boy with a burning desire to go to school. He often points to the graphics on his childhood vaccine-book, referring to them as photos of himself, his mother, and his father.

Yarmah, a farmer and a student herself, is determined to fulfill her son’s dream. She is raising funds through a daily Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) Program to enable her to register Korvah for school next year. Korvah’s story is a testament to the power of hope, resilience, and the life-changing support provided by UNICEF.

This story of hope and resilience was made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Their funding and support for UNICEF Liberia have been instrumental in transforming the lives of many children like Korvah. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to USAID for their unwavering commitment to improving child health and nutrition in Liberia.