The day everything changed

I was aware that this field trip would impact on me, cause me to reassess my life, look at the world differently and appreciate what I have. I knew it would change me. Yet nothing could have prepared me for the day I found myself discussing childhood malnutrition in a nutrition centre with a doctor from a developing country.

The nutrition centre was part of the main health centre in Bazzama. On our way in we had been shown sacks of corn syrup blend and cans of oil supplied by the World Food Programme. They were for malnourished children, pregnant woman and lactating women in the surroundings villages, many of them refugees from the Central African Republic.

I had seen food supplies such as these on news programmes but never firsthand. It was alarming to see them and to hear of the children in desperate need of nutrition. The Chief of the health centre, Mr Simon Sembong, explained that malnutrition was primarily due to poor quality food as many children survived on a diet of cassava, but that the quantity of food available was also an issue.

As he explained that children brought to the health centre were given an appetite test to see if they were able to eat and given high-calorie plumpynut if they could, my thoughts drifted back to the times I had spent in hospital being fed high-calorie nourishment drinks as a result of my anorexia. For completely different reasons I knew what it was like, as an adult, to feel the effects of starvation. I could imagine nothing worse than a child experiencing that level of suffering.

Seeing the scales on the consulting room floor, the diagram on the wall showing how acute malnutrition should be treated, and hearing about the vast numbers of children who die each year simply because they do not have adequate nutrition, it hit home that these children have no choice whatsoever in what they eat or whether they eat, and this is the reality for large numbers of the communities in Africa and across the developing world.

My thoughts turned to my own daughter and how different her life is in comparison. She has access to more food than she will ever need. We are both fussier about food than we need to be, and I am certainly more conscious of my size than I need to be. Yet we have our health and we take it for granted. There is no such luxury here.

As the emotion of the occasion overwhelmed me, I stepped outside to compose myself and gather my thoughts. To my left was a boy lying next to his mother suffering from malaria, too weak to sit up. He was seven years old, the same age as my daughter.

Something changed in me that day and I knew from that point on I would appreciate what I had, alter my attitude towards food, continue to look after my health and never ever put it at risk again.

We cannot solve all the problems of the developing world, but eliminating tetanus is one thing we can achieve in our lifetime. It is just one small step. Life is hard here, really hard. All children deserve the best start in life they can possibly have. For children in the developing world, a life with no risk of contacting tetanus is a step in the right direction.

If you can help these communities and others like them, please do.

Pampers and UNICEF campaign website

UNICEF UK

Comments

[Sian - Mummy Tips]

I love you. xx

Did they speak to you about how the children get hooked on Plumpy Nut and then refuse to eat normal food? It is a vicious circle. xx

[Hayley]

It's quite scary how much we take for granted what we have on our plates. We dont really think about the fact that around the world there are children that dont have access to our luxuries.

We really are so very lucky but I think we do all forget that far too much.

[Carly]

It's amazing what you did, I would have been to emotionally weak to see all that.

We do forget how lucky we are all the time! This is the main reason I do Ramadan each year and fast for a month, it really reminds you how we have far too much in our lives and makes you appreciate the life we do have x

[Adrenalynn]

Just... wow. We get so caught up in our own little world that the images that we are fed from underdeveloped countries don't make an impact. Thank you for this viewpoint, I really believe in real people getting to experience this and using their voice to change the way we see the world. You are wonderful!

[notSupermum]

A beautifully written, bittersweet post. Thank you xxx

[Victoria]

This is a wonderful post. It's true that it's very easy to watch these things on TV and not really identify with them. They are elsewhere. You've really brought home what it feels like, as a mother, to not be able to feed your child. And if it's made a personal difference to how you view food, then that's an added bonus.

[Mwa]

That would change a person. What a trip!

[TheMadHouse]

I am so enjoying (not the right word) your trip with you. You are right we have far too much

[Rosie Scribble]

I know what you mean! Thank you.

[Rosie Scribble]

Thanks Sian xx

They didn't mention about getting hooked on Plumpy Nut. Probably just as well - that might have finished me off!

[Hot Cross Mum]

Amazing Rosie. I think these posts are incredible: moving and inspiring.

[Jemma]

Wow xx

[A Modern Mother]

Amazing how a trip can make such a difference!

[jfb57]

Very powerful post Rosie. I'm sure you have changed some thinking here with your blog as well.

[If I Could Escape]

I'm so sorry it's taking me a while to catch up on your blog, but wow, Rosie. This is amazing and powerful post.

[amy]

a fabulous post i can't imagine the suffering that goes on and just because of a lack of food something that no one should be without xx