Acute malnourished child rescued.

Many people in the rural areas grow up in poverty, lack and majorly malnourishment, they cannot afford decent meals or even two out of the six classes of food most of us take for granted.

This is the case with Eno Effiong, a three-year-old at the time we met her, who couldn’t walk from birth.

Ubutuong Enwang is a community in Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria, occupied by peasant farmers who trade in petty things to keep body and soul together.

Mrs. Nkoyo Edet, Eno’s grandmother, a widow is one such who used to trade on petty foodstuffs but currently struggling to make ends meet.

Eno, left in the care of her grandmother due to the circumstances surrounding her birth couldn’t have access to the right nutrition that would’ve aided her proper growth. Her mum died while giving birth to her, so she was left at the mercy of starvation, malnourishment and prone to many sicknesses lurking around the absence of breast milk. This made her unable to walk!

A year passed, she couldn’t move her legs or stand without being aided. The grandmother said she kept believing she’d eventually move her limbs because most children could take a little over a year before moving their limbs. After a year and some months with no signs, she became worried and took her to the community’s health center for treatment but defied all attempts. 

The situation became worse since she couldn’t move, she defecated and urinated where she’s laid.

When CYEN International heard her story, they quickly came to her rescue and took it upon themselves to put a smile on a face. She was tested with the MUAC (Mid Upper Arm Circumference) instrument and found out that her malnourished state was critical. First, she had to eat proper meals and given the amazing Turn-Brown (rich in fiber and nutrients essential for bone development and highly recommended for patients with nutritional problems) in less than a month, Eno Effiong is on her feet, playing and measuring up with her peers.

This is indeed a miracle!

Eno is one out of a million children suffering from disabilities as a result of malnourishment, you and I can put a smile on a face today.