Malnutrition Testimonies: Mayon, South Sudan

Nyekuth Kwol Kiel feeding her daughter Nyeliet Puol with ready to use therapeutic food.

© Joseph Scott/CARE

Nyekuth Kwol Kiel and her 24 month old daughter, Nyeliet Puol Thong.

Last month, 24 months old Nyeliet had recurring bouts of fever and diarrhea. Her mother Nyekuth thought that her daughter was bewitched and took her to a traditional doctor in the village.

At the traditional doctor, they were given some roots and other concoctions, which were supposed to take care of her illness but after two days, nothing changed. In fact, Nyeliet illness became worse.

“I decided to take her to the hospital because the diarrhea was not stopping and she kept vomiting,” says Nyekuth. “At the hospital, the health staff checked her and told me that she was suffering from malnutrition.”

Nyeliat was admitted in the CARE supported Mankien Stabilization Centre situated in Mayom County. After two days, Nyeliet started to regain her health and was referred to the outpatient programme. She visits the Centre once a week to get her ration of ready to use therapeutic food (RUTF) as part of the treatment package.

“She is now improving so much,” says Nyekuth, adding, “She no longer vomits and the fever is gone. The medicine they are giving her is working very well.”

Nyabuon Ruai and granddaughter Nyaguande Pol pazala waiting to collect RUTF at Mankien Stabilisation Centre.

© Joseph Scott/CARE

Grandmother Nyabuon Ruai and granddaughter Nyaguande Pol Pazala.

Nyaguande Pol Pazala  got weaned from breastfeeding when she was only six months old. Her mother remarried and as per local custom, Nyaguande was supposed to remain with her family.  Her grandmother, Nyabuon Ruai took the young girl in her care, but it wasn’t easy as she had other six grandchildren to look after.

Last month, Nyaguande developed a fever and diarrhea. Her grandmother took her to a CARE supported hospital in Mankien, to seek for her treatment. 

“She was becoming weak and I feared for her life,” says the grandmother. “I am happy that when I arrived at the hospital the staff received me well. They immediately put my granddaughter on treatment and now she is much healthier.”

Nyaguande was diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition and neumonia. She stayed for a week in the CARE supported Stabilisation Centre at Mankien in Mayom County. After her condition improved, she was transferred to the outpatient programme.

“I come every week for her medication,” she says. “I don’t mind the distance because the medicine and the food (RUTF) is helping her a lot. She has gained weight and looks so much happy.”

A CARE staff at the mobile clinic measures the upper arm circumference for Gatluak Zoal Malual.

© Joseph Scott/CARE

Nyasima Wich Chony and her 24 month old daughter Gatluak Zoal Malual.

Thirty-five-year-old, Nyasima Wich Chony from Mayom didn’t know about the existence of a CARE run mobile nutrition clinic in her community. It took a friend to tell her about the nutrition clinic after her three-year-old daughter Gatluak Zoal Malual fell ill.

“The CARE mobile site is a god given gift. We didn’t have a health centre that offer services for children in the area. As parents, we were suffering because our children were constantly sick,” says Nyasima adding, “We had no choice but go to traditional healers for help. But most of the times they gave us as medicine that didn’t work.”

After hearing about the CARE mobile nutrition centre, Nyasima brought her immediately to the mobile site for treatment.

“They checked her and told me that she is suffering from malnutrition. She was immediately put on medication and now she is regaining her health,” she says.

Nyasima also take her other three children for medical checkup every time she goes to collect ready to use therapeutic food for Gatluak.

“I don’t want any of my children to get sick when we have such a facility in the area. I want them to be healthy that’s why I come with them to the clinic so that the health staff have a look at them,’ says Nyasima.