Seven-month-old Muskan* from northern Afghanistan received timely treatment for severe acute malnutrition thanks to an IHA MAPLE-funded Save the Children health facility, leading to significant improvement in her health as she continues her recovery.
Muskan* is a seven-month-old child living with her parents and siblings in a rural village in northern Afghanistan, where poverty and limited access to safe drinking water continue to affect children and families’ health. Her father works as a daily wage labourer (porter) and earns 100 to 150 Afghanis (1.15–1.73 USD) per day, this amount can hardly cover the family’s basic needs. With limited resources and difficulty accessing nutritious food, the family struggled to provide sufficient food for their children, placing Muskan* at serious risk of malnutrition. When she became weak, Muskan* was taken to the Save the Children static health facility funded by International Humanitarian Assistance Malnutrition and Protection in Lifesaving in Emergencies (IHA MAPLE) where she was diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition (SAM). At the time of admission, she weighed only 6 kg. The health team immediately enrolled her in treatment and provided Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) along with regular follow-up care. After receiving four rounds of treatment, Muskan*’s health improved significantly. Within more than a one month, her weight increased to 8 kg, her Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) improved, from 11.2 cm to 13.3 cm, and her condition is moving from severe acute malnutrition (SAM) to moderate acute malnutrition (MAM), and she is in the process of treatment until recovery.
Muskan*'s mother shared, “My daughter Muskan* was very weak and unable to play. I am very grateful to the doctors and this clinic for helping us."
