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Addressing Malnutrition through Community Programmes- a story from the IntegratE Project

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By Ummulkulsum Abubakar Dikko

In many communities, healthcare services are available, but a lack of awareness and literacy prevents families from accessing them when they need them the most. This was the reality for Sakina, a mother in one such community, who unknowingly watched her two-year-old son, Zaharadeen, struggle with severe malnutrition.

During one of Samira’s routine visits, Interpersonal Communication Agent (IPCA) Samira met Sakina and her son. At first glance, she noticed that Zaharadeen looked frail, weak, and underweight. His thin arms and low energy raised immediate concerns. However, Sakina had no idea her child was severely malnourished. Due to a lack of education and awareness, she assumed his small size and frequent illnesses were normal.

Understanding the urgency, Samira took the time to educate Sakina on the importance of nutrition, healthy child growth, and how to recognise signs of malnutrition. She explained in simple terms how children need a balanced diet to grow well, using examples that Sakina could easily relate to. For the first time, Sakina understood what malnutrition was and how it was affecting her child.

Despite the availability of healthcare providers and Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs) nearby, Sakina had never sought help simply because she did not know she needed to. This knowledge gap is common in communities where illiteracy is high, making the role of IPCAs like Samira even more crucial in connecting families to life-saving healthcare.

After their discussion, Samira referred Sakina to a trained provider nearby, who conducted a Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) test to assess Zaharadeen’s nutritional status. The result was alarming, the MUAC tape showed red, confirming that the child was severely malnourished. Without hesitation, the trained provider immediately referred Sakina to the nearest PHC, where Zaharadeen was given Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), a life-saving intervention for malnourished children. The health workers at the PHC also counselled Sakina on how to properly feed and monitor her child to ensure his recovery.

However, when Sakina received the RUTF, she felt bad that only Zaharadeen would be eating it while her nieces and nephews had nothing. Out of kindness, she planned to share it among them, unaware that doing so could jeopardize her son’s recovery.

Thankfully, Samira was still conducting follow-ups and noticed the situation. She immediately alerted the State Technical Advisor (STA), Ummulkulsum Abubakar Dikko, who stepped in to provide further education. The STA carefully explained to Sakina and her family that RUTF is not a regular meal, but a special treatment meant only for Zaharadeen’s recovery. She emphasised that sharing it would reduce its effectiveness and prolong his malnutrition.

To ensure Sakina was not alone in this journey, the STA also counselled the rest of the family, encouraging them to support Sakina in prioritising Zaharadeen’s recovery. She explained the importance of giving him the full course of RUTF and ensuring he gained proper weight before returning to a normal diet. With this guidance, the family understood and agreed to help Sakina ensure Zaharadeen received the full treatment.

Overwhelmed with gratitude, Sakina reflected on how close she had been to losing her son—simply because she didn’t know where to turn. She now feels empowered with knowledge, determined to ensure Zaharadeen receives proper nutrition.

This story highlights the life-saving role of IPCAs in bridging knowledge gaps and connecting families to critical healthcare. With continued investment in community awareness and trained health educators, more children like Zaharadeen can receive the care they need to survive and thrive.

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