A tale of two children’s journeys to recovery from malnutrition
Máy and Yêu are among over 200,000 children in Viet Nam who suffer every year from severe wasting. UNICEF works tirelessly to ensure that no child’s life is threatened by this disease. The child would not stop crying in the hospital ward. One hand fumbling with a yellow duck toy, the father pulled her in and quietly stroked her thin hair. At age…, Late detection and treatment, This was not the first time that Máy was brought to Dien Bien Dong District Hospital, Dien Bien, where UNICEF supports the strengthening of the nutrition programme at the commune level. Her life is again in critical condition because of severe wasting 1 . “Her parents brought her when the case is already too severe. She no longer has an appetite…, Severe wasting, a silent emergency, Despite progress, Máy is one of over 200,000 children in Viet Nam who still suffer annually from severe wasting. The disease is life-threatening and detrimental to children’s healthy development, yet access to its treatment remains low. For marginalized households that often suffer from multidimensional poverty like Máy’s family, the silent…, A wonder that saves lives, In another village in Dien Bien province, Yêu, who just turned 1, was regularly sick. “She coughed a lot, was feverish and I had to skip our farming work to stay home with her,” said her mother Dúa. When contacted by the UNICEF-supported Pu Nhi Health centre, she and her husband drove through 11 kilometres of rutted mountain roads to bring Yêu…, UNICEF in action, After a few weeks, Yêu started eating better and gained weight. Her smiles were bracketed by soft rosy cheeks, while her eyes sparkled. She crawled quickly, chewed fingers, and pointed at her surroundings with curiosity and enthusiasm. “She has not been sick and could eat well! She doesn’t cry as much as before. Now I feel better going to work…, An unrelenting mission to end malnutrition, With both local and global expertise, UNICEF’s interventions for nutrition are evidence-based, cross-sectoral, and innovative. The goal is unchanged: to end all forms of malnutrition. “UNICEF supports the national health system to scale up the most practical solutions and focus on increased levels of local ownership,” said Quang. In Dien Bien…
Viet Nam
