Abadi’s Journey Back to Health
How timely nutrition support, compassionate care and a grandmother’s determination helped a young child recover
At just seven months old, Abadi Zinabu had already faced a difficult beginning to life.
After losing his mother shortly after birth, Abadi was raised by his grandmother, Gideta Gufi in Raya Alamata. Because he could not be breastfed, he depended on bottle feeding from infancy. With limited resources, providing enough nutritious food and proper care for Abadi was a constant challenge for the family.
For some time, Abadi had also been frequently unwell, experiencing coughing and mild fever. When his grandmother brought him to a health facility, she initially believed that illness was the main reason for his condition. Following an assessment, however, health workers identified that Abadi was suffering from severe acute malnutrition and urgently needed treatment.
A timely opportunity for recovery
With the support of the Ethiopia Humanitarian Fund (EHF), MCMDO is providing integrated humanitarian assistance to communities affected by critical needs in Tigray Region, including nutrition services for children affected by acute malnutrition.
In Raya Alamata, MCMDO’s nutrition team was supporting communities through community based nutrition services and treatment for children affected by acute malnutrition.
Abadi was enrolled in the Outpatient Therapeutic Programme (OTP) and began receiving therapeutic food as part of his treatment. With continued access to the nutrition supplies he needed, Abadi was able to attend his follow up visits and continue treatment without interruption.
For his grandmother, this consistent support brought hope.
But Abadi’s recovery involved much more than treatment at the health facility.
MCMDO’s nutrition team and Health Extension Workers regularly visited the family at home. They monitored Abadi’s progress and provided practical guidance on infant and young child feeding, complementary feeding, hygiene and sanitation. His grandmother was also encouraged to attend follow up appointments and seek health services promptly whenever signs of illness or malnutrition appeared.
During one home visit, the team showed Gideta how to prepare nutritious complementary food using locally available ingredients and how to keep feeding bottles clean.
Supporting the family beyond nutrition treatment
Recognising that a child’s recovery is closely connected to the wellbeing of the household, MCMDO also provided cash assistance to Abadi’s grandmother. This helped the family improve their access to nutritious food for Abadi and the other children in the household.
For Gideta, the assistance made a meaningful difference.
With treatment, regular home visits, continued counselling and support for the household, Gideta became increasingly confident in caring for her grandson.
A journey from worry to hope
Week by week, Abadi continued his treatment with the support of his grandmother, the MCMDO nutrition team and local health workers.
After approximately nine weeks of consistent treatment, follow up and family support, Abadi successfully recovered from severe acute malnutrition. He completed his treatment without defaulting.
For Gideta, Abadi’s recovery was about more than seeing her grandson become healthier. It also gave her new knowledge and confidence to protect his health in the future.
She learned that malnutrition can be addressed when children are identified early, receive appropriate treatment and are supported with proper nutrition, hygiene and care. She is now sharing what she learned with other mothers and caregivers in her community, encouraging families to recognise the signs of malnutrition and seek support early.
More than a recovery
Abadi’s story demonstrates the importance of timely treatment, uninterrupted nutrition support, caregiver education, regular follow up and household assistance in helping children recover from malnutrition.
It also shows the value of bringing services closer to families. Through regular home visits and collaboration with Health Extension Workers and community structures, MCMDO’s nutrition programme supports not only children receiving treatment, but also the caregivers who play a vital role in their recovery.
This work is made possible through the support of the Ethiopia Humanitarian Fund (EHF), helping MCMDO reach children and families with timely, life saving nutrition assistance and other essential humanitarian services.
For Abadi and his grandmother, what began with uncertainty and worry has become a story of recovery, knowledge and renewed hope.
And for Gideta, the experience has left her with something she can pass on to others: the confidence to recognise malnutrition early, seek help and give children the care they need to grow stronger.
Abadi’s journey is a reminder that when the right support reaches a child and family at the right time, recovery is possible.
