Who cares for the carers? Malnutrition and its mental health toll
SPONSORED CONTENT The cries of children fill the intensive care unit of the Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) Nilefa Kiji nutrition facility in Maiduguri, Borno state, Nigeria. Nurses move from bed to bed checking vital signs, dispensing therapeutic milk, and reassuring anxious parents. Every child here is fighting severe acute malnutrition, a condition that […] The post Who…
The intensity of care provided to malnourished children in northern Nigeria extends beyond medical treatments to encompass the emotional wellbeing of their caregivers. These caregivers often face significant stress due to prolonged hospital stays, separation from their families, and the fear of losing their children. For instance, Fatima Ibrahim, whose 23-month-old daughter Aisha was admitted for meningitis and convulsions, worried about her remaining children, especially after her older daughter developed a fever.
MSF, the organization providing care, addresses this challenge by integrating mental health and psychosocial support into their nutrition programs. Caregivers receive psychological first aid upon arrival and participate in individual and group counseling sessions, where they can share their fears and learn coping strategies. Additionally, children engage in structured play activities to help them regain a sense of normalcy.
MSF’s counsellors often visit families to provide reassurance and, in some cases, arrange supervised home visits so caregivers can briefly check on their other family members before returning to complete their child’s treatment. This holistic approach highlights that healing a child also involves supporting the caregiver, as their emotional wellbeing is crucial for their ability to adhere to medical advice and provide necessary care.
Written by urgent.news from Bhekisisa's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
