Help a mother like Amburo* save her child’s life
Update: Hunger in Somalia reaches crisis levels.
One gift from you this Christmas could help a mother like Amburo* save her child’s life.
The three Cs. They’re a deadly combination, no matter where you live or how resilient you are. By 2020, every major hunger statistic showed signs of progress, the number of malnourished children was decreasing, more mothers were giving birth safely and fewer children were needlessly dying in their infancy.
In recent years, however, humanitarian progress has faced three major challenges. Those three Cs of conflict, climate change and Covid-19. The cost is now being counted in human lives. Together, in countries where Concern works, we can put things back on the right track, one life at a time.
In Somalia where almost half of the country’s children face acute malnutrition, Amburo’s 12-month-old son Ibrahim* fell ill because of a lack of food.
After assessment at Concern’s Maternal & Child Health Centres (MCH), Ibrahim was found to be dangerously underweight and suffering from severe acute malnutrition. He was immediately placed on a course of therapeutic food and given Amoxicillin syrup to protect his weakened body from the threat of infection.
Thankfully, Ibrahim began to put on weight and, after eight weeks of treatment, was discharged from the emergency feeding programme. Along with therapeutic food, the MCH Centre provide healthcare and nutritional supplements for pregnant and new mothers, as well as vital antenatal classes and education.
Concern has also assisted me with my malnourished children; they have given them vitamin-rich biscuits. They also shared ways to handle, prepare and store food safely as well as cook nutritious meals.
MHC Centres which cost £249 a day to run also provide a place where mothers can come together, learn from healthcare professionals, and gain the knowledge they need to keep their children healthy. Issues like breastfeeding, weaning and best hygiene practices are addressed, while mums share problems and issues, arming themselves with the knowledge to do what’s best for their children both before and after birth.
But we can’t do it without supporters like you.
We want to encourage other parents to come first to the health facility when their child is sick. The care and attention the nurses gave us really encouraged us and our son is looking stronger each day.
The three C's are having devastating impacts on the most vulnerable communities and placing children at great risk:
- In Somalia, up to half of the country’s children currently face acute malnutrition.
- In Yemen, over 21 million people depend on humanitarian aid.
- In Sierra Leone 26.2% of children suffer from impaired growth and development due to chronic malnutrition.
Please will you help mothers and children facing hunger in Somalia, Sierra Leone, Yemen and around the world?
Thank you for your kindness and compassion.
Funds raised in response to this appeal will go towards supporting Concern’s programmes helping communities in extreme poverty around the world.
*Names have been changed to protect the identity of individuals.
How your donation is used
81.9%
Overseas programmes
Almost 82 pence in every pound donated goes towards our emergency response and long-term development programmes, working together with people living in the most difficult situations to bring about lasting change to lives, livelihoods and communities.
14.2%
Fundraising
This is money we spend to raise more funds for our overseas work.
3.5%
Policy, advocacy and campaigns
We invest money to campaign, lobby governments, run petitions and put pressure on decision-makers to tackle the underlying causes of extreme poverty and push for change.
0.4%
Governance
These are funds we spend to ensure that Concern is compliant and adheres to the highest standards.
