Life-saving care for malnourished children
The land around Serang in Banten Province on the Indonesian island of Java is fertile with abundant rice and vegetable fields. Despite this, rates of malnutrition are amongst the highest in the country. Over 40 per cent of children are moderately or severely malnourished and struggling to get enough food.
One of the reasons for the high rates of malnutrition is that while people do have some food, they are unable to afford to eat the nutritious foods their bodies need. The fact that they are living in poverty means they only have access to food items such as rice and cannot afford to buy fresh vegetables, fish or meat. The problem is also exacerbated by poor health and hygiene practices that cause many problems such as diarrhoea, especially amongst children.
To help tackle the problem of malnutrition Islamic Relief runs a project in Banten that aims to improve nutritional and health practices.
Muawanah’s struggle for food
40-year-old Muawanah and her five children are among those benefitting from the project. The family live in Terumbu village where Muawanah and her husband work as farm labourers. During the planting season they weed and tend to the crops and then harvest them when they are ready. For this work they each earn around 50 cents a day.
To supplement the family’s income, two of Muawanah’s children also work. 16-year-old Johadi is the main breadwinner working as a porter in a local market and his nine-year-old sister works after school selling plastic. They each earn around one dollar day.
With such little income Muawanah faces a daily struggle to provide enough food for her family. Most of the time all she can afford to give them is plain rice, but occasionally she manages to borrow some money to buy fish.
Saving Dedi’s life
Muawanah’s six-year-old son Dedi was recently hospitalised as he was suffering from malnutrition. Muawanah said, “I was very upset and did not know what to do. Then one of the local Islamic Relief staff came to me and told me that Islamic Relief could help my family.”
Islamic Relief took Dedi to hospital where he stayed for almost three weeks as he gained weight. However, in order to ensure that he maintained this weight, Dedi was sent to an Islamic Relief nutrition clinic where malnourished children receive highly nutritious food.
Muawanah took Dedi to this clinic once a week where they would receive rations of food that he would need to eat every hour. Gradually as Dedi continued to gain strength he only needed to attend the clinic once a week.
Raising health awareness
Muawanah was also provided with advice and guidance on how to prepare nutritious meals and how simple procedures like washing hands and brushing teeth can help to keep children healthy. This advice not only benefitted Dedi, but also Muawanah’s other young children.
Muawanah said, “Islamic Relief has filled my life with joy and happiness. They helped to save Dedi’s life by giving us food and support. I will never forget how Islamic Relief has helped us, and believe that if Islamic Relief had not helped us our family would be in a much worse situation.”
Islamic Relief helps people around the world who are suffering from food shortages. By providing emergency food parcels, healthcare and training we are helping to prevent yet more deaths as a result of malnutrition. To help us continue with this life-saving work please donate today.
