EMILY: "I AM PROUD OF MYSELF FOR TAKING THE INITIATIVE TO BRING MY BABY TO THE HEALTH CENTRE"
Emily lives in West Pokot, an area where severe droughts make food and water extremely scarce. When Emily's baby, Hebron, was nine months old, he became very ill. Emily walked the two-hour distance from her home to the Action Against Hunger-supported health centre. "My baby was very sick. If I hadn't taken him to the health centre, he might even have died," Emily explains.
Upon arriving at the health centre, Emily found many other mothers who had also brought their babies for medical care. "When I started giving him other foods, a problem arose... I didn't have enough food or enough milk," says Emily. "My baby was always sick. He started to get weak and lose weight because we didn't have enough food to feed him, which worried me a lot."
"The first time I went to the health centre, I found out that he was suffering from malaria and typhoid. The main reason was the lack of food, especially milk. We didn't have any," Emily explains. Hebron suffered from malnutrition and other illnesses that prevented him from retaining nutrients from the little food he ate. For families like Emily's, who do not have access to sufficient income, clean water or adequate food, it is not easy to raise healthy, well-fed children. "We had some cows too, but we sold most of them to pay our children's school fees, and our last cow died because of the drought," says Emily.
Upon arrival at the health centre, "Hebron received intravenous treatment," explains Emily. Hebron gradually regained his strength and was discharged. Emily made sure to follow up and give him plenty of Plumpy'Nut, a peanut paste used to treat malnutrition. With her baby on her back, she regularly walks down the rocky mountain where she lives with her family, a two-hour journey in the heat, to get what Hebron needs to fully recover.
"I am proud of myself for taking the initiative to bring my baby to the health centre. If I hadn't, Hebron might not be here today," says Emily, as Hebron slowly wakes up. "There are women who drop out. In fact, some are missing today. Some women don't come here enough... Even though it's far away, it's very important to come."
According to his mother, Hebron seems to be healthier and plays much more than before. Now that he is better, Emily can refocus on her dreams for her son.
"I am very happy to be a mother, especially when I see my children growing up and doing well," says Emily. "When Hebron is older, I want to enrol him in school. I want to help him go to university so that he can get a good job and come back to help us."
