How little Yanoya bounced back
Access to nutrition supplies like the Ready-to-use Therapeutic Food is helping children to recover from malnutrition in northeast Nigeria
On July 2024, 12-month-old Yanoya Audu, was admitted at the UNICEF-supported Jebuwa nutrition treatment site in Yunusari Local Government Area of Yobe State, northeast Nigeria. This little girl weighed an alarming 5.1 kg and measured 9cm on the mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) tape, giving the on site health workers and observers quite a scare.
“I only noticed that Yanoya was losing weight steadily, despite increased breastfeeding. I was worried and unhappy,’’ said 25 years old Hauwa Kulu Audu, Yanoya’s mother.
Afraid of gambling her daughter’s health on local remedies, the mother of two visited the nutrition clinic for solution.
At the Jebuwa nutrition centre, health workers provided her child with nutrition care, including RUTF and medications to boost her immunity. In no time, Yanoya who was severely emaciated, and frail, regained her health and became a talking point for locals, on the power of timely availability of nutrition commodities where they are needed most.
The little girl’s weight increased to 8.3kg while her MUAC moved to 13.2cm.
“Yanoya has put on a lot of weight. Her health has improved, and I feel happy that I did not try local remedies. I have also learned that daily bathing is good for my child. I was also taught that hand-washing before and after feeding and using the toilet is important,’’ said Hauwa.
As protracted conflict, effects of COVID-19 and rising cost of living continue to impact the quality of life in northeast Nigeria, children here are fighting the biggest battle of their lives – malnutrition.
In 2023, over 380,000 children were admitted for acute malnutrition treatment in UNICEF-supported treatment centers across northeast Nigeria. In 2024, the number increased to over 500,000 children who were provided access and ready to use nutrition and health care.
UNICEF has been at the forefront of providing essential nutrition commodities such as the ready-to-use-therapeutic food (RUTF) to nutrition facilities operated by the Government across Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states. This intervention, supported by the German Federal Foreign Office, the European Union Humanitarian Aid (EU-ECHO) and other donor partners, has prevented stock out of essential commodities in health facilities and improve child survival in northeast Nigeria.
Yanoya's transformation is a clear testament to the life-saving impact of Ready-to-Use-Therapeutic-Food and the dedication of frontline health workers. Her story encourages us all to keep pushing for early detection, caregiver collaboration, and quality nutrition services for every child in need.
