“My family has been healed and our dignity restored through the love of St. Mary Hospital and Cabrini Ministries Ethiopia,” said Neimia’s mother.

Neimia was a malnourished three-year-old, weighing only 7.3kg. With stunted growth, his mid-upper arm circumference was eight cm. He was the size of a nine-month-old baby.

During a community visit, Cabrini Ministries Ethiopia (CME) met Neimia and his family. His parents were unemployed and struggling to provide for the family’s needs. His mother mentioned that all of her five children were unplanned.

The team requested permission to assess the child and found that Neimia’s weight and height were far below normal for a child of his age. The team immediately made plans to take Neimia and his mum to St. Mary Catholic Primary Hospital for assessment and treatment of malnutrition.

Through the support of Cabrini Outreach, Neima was admitted to the hospital and accessed pediatric care services to treat the acute malnutrition. He received medication and nutritional supplements on a daily basis until his condition was stable.

Neimia was then referred to The Baby Jesus Rehabilitation Centre where he continued to access treatment and nutrition support to continue the stabilisation process. During Neimia’s time at the rehabilitation centre, his mother and father, Admasu, were educated on the care of children and enrolled in the livelihood project implemented by CME.

As a result of the program, Admasu has successfully saved over 3,422 Birr (US$ 64.56) from his livelihood activity.

“Now I can raise my family properly through my savings,” he said.

He bought a cow with the money he saved to grow his livelihood activity where he sells the milk to the community but also fees Neima from the same milk.

Neimia’s condition has since improved greatly. He now weighs 12 kilos, weight with a MUAC of 12 cm in October 2021.

Neimia’s father plans to increase his savings to build his family a proper house in the future and expand his business. Now that he is healthier, Neimia has been enrolled at the local pre-school.

The support of Cabrini Outreach through funding has strengthened the collaboration of St Mary’s Catholic Hospital with CME to provide quality and sustainable services to the communities especially children in poor communities of Dubbo.

This support has seen more than 134 children recovering from malnutrition by the end of quarter 3, FY22 and over 46 families’ income increased to care for their children.