The journey of a malnourished child’s road to recovery

Hope in the face of drought

Banji Christine Hamuluwa
Miniver and her son Hason
UNICEF Zambia/2024/Phiri
22 January 2025

ZAMBEZI district, North-Western province, Zambia, January 2025 - In the remote village of Musamba, in Zambia’s Zambezi district, the struggle for food is a painful reminder of a drought that has stretched on for months. Eight-month-old Hason was among the most vulnerable in this crisis. Born healthy, weighing 3.2 kg, Hason became frail due to malnutrition, his feet swollen, his cries tearless from dehydration, and his energy almost nonexistent.

Miniver and Hason during a doctor’s visit at Zambezi District Hospital. Miniver tries to calm her baby down as he is restless and irritable
UNICEF Zambia/2024/Phiri
Miniver and Hason during a doctor’s visit at Zambezi District Hospital. Miniver tries to calm her baby down as he is restless and irritable.

“Hason has been weak for many days now,” his mother Miniver says as she rocks him to calm him down.

Miniver’s family, like many others in the region, depends on farming for their livelihood, but the drought destroyed their crops. The maize they planted never sprouted, and with no harvest to eat, food has been scarce.

“The food is difficult to find,” Miniver says. “Most days, we only eat one or two meals a day, which is nshima with vegetables.”

Hason’s condition deteriorated rapidly following the scarcity of food. When he lost weight and started having diarrhoea, fevers and swelling of his feet and legs, Miniver knew she had to act and take him to the hospital.

She carried Hason to Lukunyi, the nearest health clinic, and was then referred to Zambezi District Hospital, a three-hour walk under the scorching sun. By the time they arrived, Hason was exceedingly agitated. Fridah, the nutrition technologist at the hospital, immediately recognized the signs of severe acute malnutrition.

“We see so many cases like his, these days. The drought has made everything worse,” says Fridah.

Fridah preparing Miniver and Hason for feeding time. He is given therapeutic milk during his feeding times, which are every after two hours
UNICEF Zambia/2024/Phiri
Fridah preparing Miniver and Hason for feeding time. He is given therapeutic milk during his feeding times, which are every after two hours.

Hason was admitted to the clinic’s emergency feeding programme. Thanks to urgent intervention of UNICEF Zambia, with support from the European Union (the EU), the Zambezi District Hospital has benefitted from essential supplies which enabled Fridah to start baby Hason on therapeutic milk a formula designed to help severely malnourished children regain strength. Over the next few days, Hason’s condition began to stabilize.

The road to recovery

Recovery was slow but steady – Hason’s swelling started to wear off, his energy began to return, and his agitation began to dissipate. Fridah continued to monitor Hason’s progress, providing his mother with nutrition counseling to ensure her family could maintain his recovery at home. Miniver stayed by his side, helping him through each step of the process. “I couldn’t believe the difference,” Miniver says. “We were all scared, we would lose him.”

After three weeks, Hason was finally discharged from the hospital. Miniver was given a supply of Ready to Use Therapeutic food (RUTF)—a peanut-based paste packed with essential nutrients. She was also taught, how to prepare nutrient-rich meals using the limited resources available.

Miniver and Hason at their home. Miniver shows how happy she is that her baby is fully recovered and back to normal
UNICEF Zambia/2025/Ngandwe
Miniver and Hason at their home. Miniver shows how happy she is that her baby is fully recovered and back to normal.

Hason is now fully recovered, with full strength, normal skin tone, and the playfulness expected of a baby his age. Miniver continues to feed him nutritious porridge and RUTF and is now transitioning to CBS Plus. For Miniver, the experience has been life changing.

For Fridah, his recovery is a reminder of why she continues her work despite the overwhelming challenges. “Seeing Hason smile again gives me hope,” Fridah says. “It shows that with the right support, we can save lives, even in the toughest conditions.”

Hason’s story is a testament to resilience, but it also highlights the scale of the nutrition crisis in Zambezi district. Fridah’s clinic is just one of many struggling to cope with the influx of malnourished children. Resources are limited, and many families, like Miniver’s, must travel long distances to access care.

UNICEF Zambia and its partners are grateful for the generous support of the European Union, especially at this time when children and families are struggling to recover from the impact of the drought.  UNICEF Zambia is working to reach families like Miniver’s in need of life-saving support. But the need remains immense, and greater support for the drought response is crucial.