When Abel was born, his family was confronted with a devastating loss. His mother died from postpartum complications surrounding his birth, leaving behind a newborn whose care had not been anticipated or prepared for.

With no prior preparation and limited resources, Abel’s extended maternal family suddenly faced the difficult responsibility of keeping him alive and preserving the legacy his mother left behind.

His aunt stepped forward to care for him. She had the willingness and courage to raise him, but the realities of limited resources and gaps in knowledge soon became overwhelming. Caring for an infant without adequate support was proving difficult.

Determined to find help, she took Abel to the nearest Primary Health Care Centre (PHC), where he was diagnosed with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) and referred to the Lagos Food Bank Initiative for further nutritional support.

A Critical Intervention

At seven months, Abel weighed just 3.2 kg, measured 52 cm in length, had a MUAC of 8 cm, and a head circumference of 37 cm.

He was enrolled in LFBI’s NUMEPLAN program, where his aunt received practical education on infant and young child feeding, including care and hygiene practices. The family was also supported with supplementary food assistance every two weeks, alongside periodic check-ins to identify challenges affecting the application of the nutrition knowledge she had received.

The intervention was not simply about providing food. It was about giving Abel’s caregiver the knowledge, support and resources needed to care for him with greater confidence.

A Remarkable Change

Five months later, Abel’s progress tells a different story.

At 12 months, he now weighs 8 kg, has a MUAC of 13.6 cm, measures 70.5 cm in length, and has a head circumference of 43 cm. He has reached 89.9% of his ideal body weight.

For his aunt, what began as an overwhelming responsibility became a journey of learning, resilience and hope.

Abel’s story reminds us that early intervention can change the course of a child’s life. With timely nutritional support, caregiver education and consistent follow-up, a child once fighting severe malnutrition can begin to grow, recover and look forward to a healthier future.

Through NUMEPLAN, LFBI continues to support vulnerable children and their caregivers, not only with food, but with the knowledge and sustained support needed to help children thrive.