Fardosa Hussein

Photographer

Treatment process for Malnutrition

Undernutrition is the single greatest threat to child survival worldwide and the underlying cause of nearly half of all child deaths. Malnutrition in Somalia is complex and challenging, lack of knowledge; poverty, and cultural norm have acted as a barrier for many decades. In Mogadishu’s largest IDP camp that hosts more than 800,000 IDP, the highest number of IDP households displaced by protracted conflict and successive drought in Somalia has more cases of children suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition. Caregivers living in the IDP camps depend on the support of NGOs to get treatment for their children.

Portrait of Abdiqani Abdihakim ...sein for Action Against Hunger)

Portrait of Abdiqani Abdihakim during admission at Hodan stabilization center in Mogadishu, Somalia on Tuesday, February 11, 2020. Abdiqani was admitted with Oedema, a condition characterized by an excess of watery fluid collecting in the cavities or tissues of the body.

(Fardosa Hussein for Action Against Hunger)

Dr. Abdihakim checks Abdiqani&a...sein for Action Against Hunger)

Dr. Abdihakim checks Abdiqani's temperature as his mother holds him at the Kahda Maternal and Child Health center outside of Mogadishu, Somalia on Tuesday, February 18, 2020. There are a couple of NGO run Maternal health centers in Kahda IDP camp, where mothers pick their children's weekly RUTF (peanut butter rich in vitamins and energy) once they are discharged from stabilization centers in Mogadishu town. Their health is also monitored during the weekly visits to the centers to check the child's progress.

(Fardosa Hussein for Action Against Hunger)

A group of mothers and their ch...sein for Action Against Hunger)

A group of mothers and their children in one of the wards at Hodan stabilization center in Mogadishu, Somalia on Tuesday, Wednesday 18, 2020. Caregivers and their children are housed at the center for a period of two weeks - the standard period for treating severe forms of malnutrition.

(Fardosa Hussein for Action Against Hunger)

Mid Upper Arm Circumference (MU...sein for Action Against Hunger)

Mid Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) measurements of Abdiqani Abdihakim is taken by a nurse at the Kahda Maternal and Child Health center outside of Mogadishu, Somalia on Wednesday, February 18, 2020. MUAC tape is used to measure malnutrition levels in children under the age of 2 years old. Once the child recovers fully, the caregiver is given a MUAC tape to keep track of their child's nutrition status.

(Fardosa Hussein for Action Against Hunger)

Khadija Ibrahim,30, plays with ...sein for Action Against Hunger)

Khadija Ibrahim,30, plays with her son Abdiqani Abdihakim, 2 years, at Hodan stabilization center in Mogadishu, Somalia on Tuesday, February 17, 2020. Abdiqani was admitted with Oedema, a condition characterized by an excess of watery fluid collecting in the cavities or tissues of the body. At the stabilization center, nurses monitor the child's health on a daily basis for a period of 7-10 days depending on how fast the child recovers.

(Fardosa Hussein for Action Against Hunger)

Khadija Ibrahim and her son Abd...sein for Action Against Hunger)

Khadija Ibrahim and her son Abdiqani Abdihakim are received at Kahda Maternal and Child Health center Mogadishu, Somalia on Wednesday, February 18, 2020.
Once children are discharged from the stabilization centers they are linked to a Maternal and Child Health center near where they live to make it easy for them to access services on a weekly basis until the child recovers.

(Fardosa Hussein for Action Against Hunger)

A section of Kahda Maternal and...sein for Action Against Hunger)

A section of Kahda Maternal and Child Health center run by Action Against Hunger outside of Mogadishu, Somalia on Tuesday, February 11, 2020. The center refers children with severe acute malnutrition to stabilization centers in Mogadishu run by Action Against Hunger.

(Fardosa Hussein for Action Against Hunger)

Action Against Hunger staff att...sein for Action Against Hunger)

Action Against Hunger staff attend to Khadija Ibrahim at the Kahda Maternal and Child Health center outside of Mogadishu, Somalia on Wednesday , February 18, 2020. Caregivers visit the center on a weekly basis to have their children's health monitored as well as receive their weekly RUTF - a lifesaving peanut formula for children suffering from malnutrition

(Fardosa Hussein for Action Against Hunger)

Khadija Ibrahim and her son Abdiqani Abdihakim outside their home at the Kahda Internally Displaced persons camp outside of Mogadishu, Somalia on Wednesday, February 18, 2020. (Fardosa Hussein for Action Against Hunger)

Abdi Ahmed, an Action Against H...sein for Action Against Hunger)

Abdi Ahmed, an Action Against Hunger community health worker gives Khadija Ibrahim advice on how to care for Abdiqani Abdihakim as he slowly recoveries from severe acute malnutrition at the Kahda Internally Displaced person camp outside of Mogadishu, Somalia on Tuesday, February 25, 2020. Community Health workers are tasked with the responsibility of conducting door to door sessions for mothers with children recovering from severe acute malnutrition on the importance of good nutrition and hygiene practices. They also monitor the child's health to ensure that they are on track with the recovery process.

(Fardosa Hussein for Action Against Hunger)

Abdiqani Abdihakim, (far left) ...sein for Action Against Hunger)

Abdiqani Abdihakim, (far left) with his mother Khadija Ibrahim and the rest of their family members at the Kahda Internally Displaced person camp outside of Mogadishu, Somalia on Tuesday, February 11, 2020. Khadija works as as a casual laborer in Mogadishu. Khadija's mother Ayaano (far left) came back from Baidoa, South central Somalia, when Abdiqani was admitted at Hodan stabilization center. Khadija had to spend time with her son at the hospital while her mother and sister took care of her other two children at their home in Kahda IDP camp.
One of the factors Khadija sites as a cause of malnutrition is lack of attention and extensive care given to children as mothers are burdened with the responsibility of providing and caring for their children which is extremely hard for many mothers in the IDP camp who have to work for long hours.

(Fardosa Hussein for Action Against Hunger)

Abdiqani Abdihakim,2 years, eat...sein for Action Against Hunger)

Abdiqani Abdihakim,2 years, eats his RUTF at home Mogadishu, Somalia - at the Kahda Internally Displaced persons camp outside of Mogadishu, Somalia on Tuesday, March 3, 2020.
RUTF is a lifesaving peanut formula for children suffering from malnutrition.

(Fardosa Hussein for Action Against Hunger)

Khadija Ibrahim holds her son a...sein for Action Against Hunger)

Khadija Ibrahim holds her son alongside her neighbor Mama Ethanoy, and her granddaughter Raxo at the Kahda Maternal and Child Health center outside of Mogadishu, Somalia on Tuesday, April 28, 2020. Caregivers visit the Maternal and Child Health center on a weekly basis to have their children's health monitored as well as pick their weekly RUTF - a lifesaving peanut formula for children suffering from malnutrition. The Maternal and Child Health centers run by NGOs are mostly located in the IDP camps to make it easy for caregivers living in the camps to access them.

(Fardosa Hussein for Action Against Hunger)

Khadija Ibrahim and her son Abdiqani Abdihakim have a playful moment at the Kahda Internally Displaced person camp outside of Mogadishu, Somalia on Tuesday, March 03, 2020. It took almost two months for Abdiqani to recover fully from Oedema. He now lives a happy and healthy life.

(Fardosa Hussein for Action Against Hunger)

Abdiqani Abdihakim makes a play...sein for Action Against Hunger)

Abdiqani Abdihakim makes a playful face as he holds his RUTF (a lifesaving peanut formula for children suffering from malnutrition) at Hodan Stabilization center in Mogadishu, Somalia on Wednesday, February 17, 2020.

(Fardosa Hussein for Action Against Hunger)

An Ariel shot of Kahda Internal...sein for Action Against Hunger)

An Ariel shot of Kahda Internally Displaced person camp outside of Mogadishu, Somalia on Tuesday, March 10, 2020. Kahda IDP camp in Mogadishu that hosts 845,000 IDPs; the highest number of IDP households displaced by protracted conflict and successive drought in Somalia.

(Fardosa Hussein for Action Against Hunger)

Khadija Ibrahim, 30, cleans ute...sein for Action Against Hunger)

Khadija Ibrahim, 30, cleans utensils as her son Abdiqani Abdihakim playfully walks around while her daughter Halima Abdihakim watches at the Kahda Internally Displaced person camp outside of Mogadishu, Somalia on Tuesday, April 25, 2020. Khadija works as a casual laborer in Mogadishu and single-handedly takes care of her three children.

(Fardosa Hussein for Action Against Hunger)

Khadija Ibrahim, 30, walks towa...sein for Action Against Hunger)

Khadija Ibrahim, 30, walks towards her home with her son Abdiqani Abdihakim at the Kahda Internally Displaced person camp outside of Mogadishu, Somalia on Tuesday, February 25, 2020. Kahda IDP camp in Mogadishu that hosts 845,000 IDPs; the highest number of IDP households displaced by protracted conflict and successive drought in Somalia.

(Fardosa Hussein for Action Against Hunger)