Food therapy for Fatmata

Fatmata is five years old, though you would never know it from her frail appearance. This sweet girl is severely malnourished and currently cannot stand without assistance. Her mother walks long distances each week to bring her to our clinic because, to their knowledge, we are the only facility nearby with the resources to treat a case this severe. Fatmata’s recovery will require many weeks of supervised food therapy and a larger quantity of ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) than less severe cases. That’s why we are seeking sponsorship—to ensure she can continue receiving the life-saving care she needs.

Why Fatmata’s case matters
– Severe malnutrition is a medical emergency. Children like Fatmata face increased risk of infection, delayed development, and long-term health consequences if not treated promptly and consistently.
– Treatment for severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is resource-intensive. RUTF, regular clinical assessments, and caregiver education are all essential components. Because cases vary widely in severity, it’s difficult for small clinics to budget precisely for every child who arrives in need.
– For Fatmata and her mother, sponsorship is more than charity—it’s hope. Regular sponsorship will keep her clinic appointments consistent, allow us to provide adequate RUTF and monitoring, and support the education her mother needs to prevent relapse.

What sponsorship will provide
– Regular RUTF and medically guided food therapy: Children with severe malnutrition often require larger, longer courses of RUTF. Sponsorship helps ensure Fatmata receives the appropriate quantity and duration of therapeutic nutrition.
– Weekly clinic visits and medical monitoring: Consistent follow-up is crucial for tracking weight gain, treating infections, and adjusting the care plan as Fatmata improves.
– Caregiver education: We will teach Fatmata’s mother practical, culturally appropriate ways to improve dietary diversity, hygiene, and feeding practices to prevent malnutrition from recurring.
– Community impact: Sponsoring one child strengthens clinic capacity to treat others—sustained funding reduces stockouts of RUTF and stabilizes services for the whole community.
Why your contribution is the difference
– Direct impact: Donations designated for Fatmata go straight to the supplies and services that support her recovery: therapeutic food, clinical care, and caregiver training.
– Cost-effectiveness: Nutritional rehabilitation at community clinics is one of the most cost-effective interventions to reduce child mortality and improve long-term development outcomes.
– Long-term benefits: Beyond immediate recovery, caregiver education and follow-up reduce the risk of relapse, meaning sponsorship helps create lasting change for Fatmata and her family.
If any funds remain after Fatmata’s care is complete, the remaining funds will be rolled over to another patient.