Emerg Nutrition & Health Care, East Africa Crisis

Merlin has been providing nutrition services in Kerio— one region of Turkana province—since  2006. When the food crisis set in last year, existing activities in Kerio’s health facility were scaled up, and community health workers began conducting outreach visits to communities up to six miles away from the facility.

One baby identified as severely malnourished by the health workers was eight month old Napeyok.  She was immediately referred to Merlin’s outpatient therapeutic program at Kerio’s health facility.

At the time she weighed about eight pounds and had a mid-upper- arm circumference of 4.29 inches (a measurement of 4.3 inches or below indicates that a child is suffering from severe acute malnutrition). She was also suffering from vomiting and diarrhea, as well as, testing positive for malaria.

Napeyok’s mother - Veronica Ipoo— had been raising six children alone in a village near to Kerio.  She had 30 goats—the family’s source of food and livelihood. The severe drought led to the depletion of green pastures and the death of the goats.  The family became malnourished, including Veronica herself, who became unable to provide breast milk to the youngest ones.

However, Napeyok’s condition steadily improved after being given medication and supplies of PlumpyNut (a highly nutritious peanut butter paste packed with calories and vitamins, especially formulated to renourish starving children) by Merlin health workers, and attending consultations every week.  By November she was still malnourished, but only moderately so, and was transferred to a supplementary feeding program. After a further two months of receiving a corn-soya blend (a fortified porridge), she was finally discharged in January.

Napeyok is now sixteen months old, and the family has moved in with relatives in Kerio who share their meals of beans and maize in return for firewood and water fetched by Veronica.  It is a temporary solution, but ensures that the family does not go hungry, and allows Veronica to begin building up her livestock again.  She says that, if it were not for Merlin, Napeyok - once so weak and prone to illnesses – would not have survived.

Adbia's story:

“I don’t have anything. No food or milk to give my children. I don’t have money to buy food either. That is why my baby is skinny,” says Adbia.

 Adbia Hossain is anxious. She fears for the life of her baby girl, Socado who is severely malnourished. Socado also has a bad cough, oral thrush and rashes on her body, perhaps from a previous measles infection.

Fear is a constant

 Not being able to care for your sick child because you have no food or money is a situation no one should be in. Sadly, it’s a reality for many people living in the midst of conflict and the East African Food Crisis.

Fear is not unknown to Adbia. Due to fighting in Somalia in 2012 near her hometown, Afgoye she was forced to leave her home with her family at a moment’s notice. Her parents did not survive the attacks.

With no lifeline, Adbia and her family have been living on the brink. The drought also took away their remaining herd of goats and they barely survive on the humanitarian aid they receive in Nabadoon camp where they live.

Breaking free from despair

Being in right place at the right time, Adbia heard about Merlin's health and nutrition program from the local leader of the camp. It was a stroke of luck.

At the first opportunity early next morning, Adbia walked to the Merlin clinic. Socado was examined by medical staff and given a range of vital medicines such as oral drops and Plumpy’Nut paste. This saved her from her critical condition and giving her ability to reclaim the chance of starting a healthy life. Under the doctor’s advice Socado was also put on a three month treatment program.

“I am happy my daughter is getting better with Merlin’s help”, said a relieved Adbia.

Expecting chaos, hunger and uncertainty on a daily basis is normal for people like Adbia but do you think it should be? Although not all of the problems related to conflict situations can be resolved, you can help us wipe away some of these life-threatening health issues from people’s lives by donating to Merlin today.