THE LIFE-SAVING SUPPLY CHAIN
IN ACTION

Massah was a healthy baby for the first year of her life. “I was so happy when I held her in my arms for the first time,” recalls her mother, Margaret.

But Margaret soon noticed her daughter was getting weaker. A visit to the health centre confirmed that 15-month-old Massah was suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition.

Massah was admitted to the Levuma Health Facility, who provide vital health services to children and their families. UNICEF funding from FCDO and Soccer Aid in 2019 helped train Head Nurse Alice Lebbie to diagnose and treat children suffering from malnutrition.

Nurse Alice treated Massah using a variety of vital medical supplies –from ready-to-use therapeutic food to antibiotics and routine vaccinations. “If the supplies are not sent to us, we can’t treat the children who need them” describes Alice. “We would have lost a lot of children to malnutrition.”

Thankfully, Bockarie Kobba is District Pharmacist at the Moyamba District Medical store, responsible for getting these life-saving medical supplies to facilities like Levuma. Every stockout of supplies means that children do not get the life-saving treatment they need –but funding from FCDO and Soccer Aid helped to train Bockarie on supply management software that helps ensure medical facilities are equipped to save lives. He has since cascaded that training to the local staff at each facility in the district. “It has made my work so much easier,” says Bockarie, who is aware of the key role he plays to ensure children get the care they need. “Without these essential supplies, there’s no programme. It is the only way we can save lives.”

“The availability of these medicines make it possible for us to treat children like Massah,” agrees Alice. Indeed, discharged after six weeks in the programme. “The treatment made so much difference,” Alice continues. “She regained her lost weight and is growing strong and healthy.”

Margaret is grateful for the supply chain making it possible to treat her daughter. “I was so happy when her condition began to improve. The treatment she received was vital for her recovery.”

“I believe she would have died if it wasn’t for the treatment she got from the facility.”

Nurse Alice now leads talks for parents and caregivers like Margaret, on nutritional practices from early pregnancy through to childhood. Margaret is still seeing the ongoing impact from the support: “I have learnt about best practices for child feeding and hygiene. I now feel better equipped to properly nourish my child, so that she can grow up healthy.”