S.A.M Stopper

Meet Fadumo.

She is a S.A.M stopper.

S.A.M stands for severe acute malnutrition. Right now, in Somalia where Fadumo lives, S.A.M. threatens 386,000 children’s lives.

Without experienced health care workers like Fadumo, children would not get the support they need to recover.

A friendly face

Fadumo has been working at a Save the Children supported hospital for five years. She is knowledgeable and attends to children with warmth.

The hospital is in the middle of a bustling town. Once you enter the hospital gates, everything is calm. The walls are cream and mint green. Inside smells of soap.

There are two rooms for treating children with S.A.M. The room at the front of the hospital is for children who are on the mend. The room behind it is for children who have just been admitted. Beds are dotted around the rooms, with comfortable throws in colourful patterns.

Step into Fadumo's shoes.

Here’s how she describes her life on the frontline against S.A.M.

Hear directly from Fadumo and find out what life is like treating children every day. Words below by Fadumo, 30, a Save the Children supported health worker in Puntland, Somalia.

Hi, I'm Fadumo. I am a nurse. I work at the special childcare centre for children who are malnourished.

I am in charge of the place! I supervise the staff and work hard for my patients. Often, they are children who were born into very poor families. To work for them makes me proud.

The children we treat often don't have enough food. When they don't get enough to eat, they suffer from malnutrition. This can lead to Severe Acute Malnutrition (S.A.M), which is most common in children under the age of five. Young children do not have strong immune systems and their bodies need energy to grow quickly.

Holding one of the children I have treated in the hospital.

A photo of the weighing machine used in the hospital to weigh children with S.A.M

Treating baby Tahiil*, one, for S.A.M, at a Save the Children supported hospital in Puntland, Somalia

Astur*, 24, with her baby, Mursal*, one, just after being admitted to the hospital for S.A.M

Triple threat to children’s futures

The drought affected landscape in Puntland, Somalia

Families in Somalia are facing droughts for the third year in a row. It doesn't rain anymore. This means crops die and animals can’t graze. When the animals are gone, there is no meat and no milk.

The impact of Covid has put more pressure on families.

On top of that, a global shortage of grain because of the war in Ukraine has made food here more expensive. This is causing crisis levels of child hunger in Somalia and our neighbouring countries.

Therapeutic milk and peanut paste, used to treat children with S.A.M, at the hospital.

I'm in the middle, with my health worker colleagues, holding therapeutic peanut paste, used to treat children with S.A.M.

But there is hope. For many children, the cure for S.A.M. is simple: special milk formula and high-nutrient peanut paste.

We’re giving life-saving care to children in hospitals and treatment centers. Whenever the cases of children with malnutrition increase, we reach out to Save the Children and they bring extra support.

Treating baby Tahiil, one, for S.A.M, at the hospital.

Hour by hour

"Within 24 hours I felt good to see my child playing... I want her to live a good life" Yasmiin*, 28
Yasmiin's* daughter Ubah*, four, (left) was treated for S.A.M at our hospital

Yasmiin*, 28, at a stabalisation centre for children with SAM in Puntland, Somalia

Yasmiin*, 28, at a stabalisation centre for children with SAM in Puntland, Somalia

I spend all my time with the children and their families. We recently treated Ubah*, she was very cheeky. Her mother Yasmiin* is bright and strong.

When a child arrives at the hospital, the first thing we do is check their temperature, measure their height and their weight.

Once we have decided on the level of care needed for a child, we start the treatment plan.

We monitor each child hour by hour; this includes their weight and oxygen level. Be it night or day, we sit beside them.

The treatment is simple, inexpensive and effective. We give children special high-nutrient milk formula and peanut paste every three hours. This helps them recover and gain weight.

If a child is under six months old, they only have milk. Children over six months old will start with the milk treatment and move onto peanut paste when they have started to gain weight.

Ubah*, four, with sister Amran*, eight, at a stabalisation centre for children with SAM in Puntland, Somalia.

The road to recovery

Ladan*, 10, (in purple), with her siblings, and baby brother, one, at home in Puntland, Somalia. Ladan's* baby brother recently recovered from S.A.M after we treated him at the hospital.

On average, a child is discharged from hospital after ten days.

Often a parent or guardian will stay with their child during this time. We make sure the person staying at hospital with the child has three hot meals a day. This includes chicken, rice, vegetables and fruit. This is particularly important for breastfeeding mothers.

Once children get a little better, they start to sit up. Once they get a lot better, they start laughing and playing!

With Save the Children support, we give the children toy cars and colourful building bricks. Even the food is paid by Save the Children.

Outside of the hospital, there is more support for children. This includes a Child Friendly Space in the nearby camp. Many families living here lost their animals and traditional way of life due to the drought. These spaces are really important so children can learn and play.

Food being prepared at the hospital.

Ladan*, 10, skipping at a Save the Children Child Friendly Space in the area. Ladan's* baby brother was recently treated for S.A.M at the hospital.

Ladan*, 10, with mum Casho*, 30, and her siblings at home in Puntland, Somalia.

Abshir*, nine months, who recently recovered from S.A.M at the hospital. He made a full recovery and loves playing with the toy cars - which have batteries in them so they move around the floor!

I am proud of my work. It is my hope, it is my passion. I care for the very young children who are impacted by malnutrition. They are often children who are often born to into poor families, to work for them it makes me proud indeed.

It is very difficult to watch a kid who has been in a critical condition. When they are happy again and when they leave the hospital, it is very beautiful. You feel the outcome of what you have done.