Humanitarian Action for Children 2021
only on food aid. Fangak County is particularly badly affected: In August 2021, reporting of severe hunger was
found to be especially high at 100% of assessed settlements in the county 34.
Progress and Results
On 19 August 2021, a 23-month-old severely malnourished infant boy named Gatdet appeared in Keew primary
health care centre managed by Christian Mission Aid. Gatdet was immediately transferred to the UNICEF-
supported Keew nutrition stabilization centre in Fangak County, for admission.
On arrival, the mother and sick child were welcomed by the stabilization centre nurse and provided with
orientation on the admission process. Gatdet was very weak, and so was immediately given an oral sugar water
solution.
Gatdet's mother indicated that he had a fever, loss of weight, loss of appetite, diarrhoea and a cough that had
lasted more than two weeks. Gatdet's anthropometric measurements were taken, and the Weight-for-Height Z-
Score indicated severe acute malnutrition (SAM) at <-3SD. Vital signs were also taken, as well as a Malaria
Rapid Diagnostic test; Gatdet was found to be positive for malaria.
With resources made available through global thematic funds, UNICEF procures therapeutic milk for treatment
of children affected by severe wasting and underlying medical complications, and recruits and trains nutrition
nurses to support 24-hour treatment at the stabilization centre. This support allowed Gatdet to regain his health
and his strength and contributed to saving his life.
Criticality and Value Added
Addressing malnutrition is a core element of UNICEF South Sudan's programming priorities. The biggest burden
of food insecurity is on children whose bodies cannot endure hunger, as they become wasted, emaciated and
severely malnourished. Children suffering from wasting have weakened immunity, are susceptible to long term
developmental delays, and face an increased risk of death, particularly when wasting is severe. These children
require urgent feeding, treatment and care to survive 35.
The UNICEF programme allows for immediate identification and effective treatment of severely malnourished
children and any medical complications, increasing their chance of survival and treatment outcomes, and
reducing the mortality rate.
Challenges and Lesson Learned
Initially Gatdet's mother was reluctant to get him admitted into the stabilization centre as there was no one to
take care of her other children, but she was convinced by the staff in the hospital.
Due to severe flooding in Keew village and the entire Fangak County, it was very challenging to sustain the
services and deliver the expected results. To protect the stabilization centre, staff made a dyke around the
facility to avoid it being submerged and the situation was not easy to manage.
Once stabilized, Gatdet could not be referred to secondary care in a Médecins Sans Frontières-supported centre
in old Fangak because of severe flooding, which cut off Keew stabilization centre. The only means to get to Old
Fangak was through use of a hired canoe, so the wasted Gatdet would spend more than 5 hours in water on a
daily basis. Therefore, the facility staff retained Gatdet in the stabilization centre for the duration of his care.
Moving Forward
UNICEF seeks further support to continue providing urgent treatment for children 0-59 months with severe
wasting, in the context of increased investments into robust and resilient community-based management of
severe wasting programmes in protracted conflict environments, informed by global guidelines and protocols.
Improved access to preventive services is also vital to allow caregivers to give their children the best start in
life, such as through education and awareness raising on infant and young child feeding practices including
34
REACH, Humanitarian Situation Monitoring, Jonglei State South Sudan April - August 2021 https://www.impact-
repository.org/document/reach/366d535e/REACH_SSD_Situation_Overview_Jonglei_April_August_2021_final.pdf
35 UNICEF/WHO/World Bank, Levels and trends in child malnutrition UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Group Joint Child
Malnutrition Estimates Key findings of the 2019 edition https://www.who.int/nutgrowthdb/jme-2019-key-findings.pdf
26View entire presentation