Child health care in Nigeria: essential humanitarian assistance

In the Gufta camp in Pulka, Borno State in Nigeria, where thousands of families have sought refuge from the violence of Boko Haram, 34-year-old Aisha Ali has finally found serenity. This courageous mother has faced tragic loss, but also a miracle: the survival of her son Musa thanks to a decisive humanitarian intervention.

Originally from Bama LGA, Aisha fled with her family to escape the violence. After the loss of her first husband, she joined the Gufta camp with her second husband and their children. But life in the camp is hard. Of her eight children, three succumbed to illness at an early age. Aisha is constantly afraid of losing another child.

When Musa, her nine-month-old baby, fell seriously ill, the mother’s worry was overwhelming. Feverish, suffering from vomiting and diarrhea, Musa seemed doomed, and Aisha had lost hope.

Musa, le fils d’Aisha

LA GRATITUDE D’UNE MERE

That all changed when Première Urgence Internationale’s community mobilization nutrition workers visited Aisha. Although hesitant, she agreed, encouraged by her husband, to go to the Balengyelle stabilization center.

On their arrival at the Center, Musa immediately received intensive care: infusions, injections and tube feeding. Despite her exhaustion, Aisha began to hope when, by the second day, Musa was able to breathe on his own. Gradually, his condition improved, and after 35 days, Musa was transformed. His smile and his playfulness with other children at the Center testified to his rebirth.

“The nurses looked after Musa as if he were their own child,” says Aisha, with infinite gratitude to the Première Urgence Internationale team, who enabled her to save her son without having to worry about the cost of care or medication. She confides that the human warmth and support she received made all the difference.

Aisha is now campaigning for other mothers in the camp not to hesitate to seek help from the stabilization center.

Learn more about our mission in Nigeria

The deployment of the CNMs and the running of the stabilization center are made possible thanks to funding from ECHO.