Rescued from Malnutrition

"My name is Lovely, there are many things that I can't do," Lovely's voice, tinged with both vulnerability and strength, echoed through the narrow lanes of her community. With two children to care for and a husband absent from their lives, she stood as a lone guardian against the tide of hardships that sought to engulf them. Her husband's absence meant that their survival depended on his sporadic contributions, often leaving them without enough to eat. “I can’t just sit there calling a man to tell him that I need this or that.” The struggle was palpable, the weight of responsibility heavy, yet Lovely's spirit remained unbroken. As her husband's support waned, Lovely's resolve remained strong, driven by the sheer force of maternal love.

In the community of Bois de Lance in Limonade, World Vision encountered a community grappling with hunger, fueled by inflation and unrelenting drought. According to a recent report from WFP, “Rainfall deficits over the past 5 to 6 months have affected Haiti. The severity of the impact varies by commune. Such short multi term dry conditions coincide with a year cycle of unseasonably dry and hot conditions, revealed by satellite time series, which has been affecting Haiti since 2013, especially the departments NorthEast, North and Centre.” This crisis hit farmers the hardest, as their once-flourishing gardens withered under the scorching sun. Unfortunately, the most affected by the situation were the children.

"Children suffer from severe to moderate malnutrition," explained Roudeline Delvariste, World Vision's Program supervisor in Bois de Lance. As an observer of the community's plight, she unveiled the dire situation that faced Haiti's children. The delicate balance between inflation, drought, and the toil of subsistence farming had created a perfect storm of malnutrition, pushing children to the brink of health.

Haiti, a country marred by challenges, battled an alarming malnutrition crisis, with over 22% of children under the age of five experiencing stunted growth due to inadequate nutrition, according to a recent survey by the Ministry of Public Health. The statistics painted a grim reality, one where the dreams of a generation hung in the balance.

Furthermore, Haiti is one of the poorest and most food-insecure countries in the world, with high levels of malnutrition and poverty. According to the National Coordination for Food Security in Haiti, from September 2022 to February 2023, 19,200 people are estimated to be in Disaster (Phase 5 of the CPI). 18% of the population analyzed (approximately 1.8 million people) is classified as IPC Phase 4 (Emergency), and 29% (about 2.9 million people) in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis), or about 48% of the population in need of urgent action.

Amidst the parched landscapes and wilted crops, World Vision's approach ignited a wave of transformation. Rally posts, strategically placed throughout the community, became centers of empowerment. "We help the mothers through the rally posts we organize in the community," shared Roudeline, her voice infused with the belief that education could break the cycle of malnutrition.

Education became a powerful tool. Roudeline and her team empowered mothers to understand proper nutrition. They equipped Lovely and others like her with the knowledge to care for their children, nurturing them back to health and breaking the cycle of malnutrition. Pregnant women found solace in mothers' clubs, where they received guidance on health, nutrition, and caring for their newborns. Roudeline's vision extended beyond immediate relief; it embraced a holistic approach to wellbeing.

"MedikaManba," Lovely whispered the words that had become a lifeline for her baby. “My baby, Ecdaline, was ill and spent months at the hospital. She was swollen and couldn’t sleep!” In a society where access to proper nutrition was a luxury, World Vision's intervention in the form of food supplements like MedikaManba provided sustenance and a lifeline back to health. "The hospital kept her because she was already anemic," Lovely's eyes glistened with the memory of her child's fight for survival.

Beyond immediate relief, World Vision's impact reverberated in the community's newfound resilience. Small businesses blossomed, as mothers turned entrepreneurs, determined to carve a path out of poverty. Roudeline underscored the vision, "We support them with small businesses to improve their resilience so that they can provide for themselves, their families, and their children."

But World Vision's efforts didn't stop at nutrition alone. They recognized the interconnectedness of challenges and addressed them head-on. Clean water, hygiene, small businesses – each piece was essential in rebuilding the community's resilience.

The story of Lovely and her village is a testament to the power of collective action. World Vision Haiti's unwavering commitment transformed a story of hardship into hope. The future holds promise, as children grow healthy, families become self-sufficient, and communities thrive once more. In the face of adversity, World Vision Haiti illuminated a path forward, proving that with love, compassion, and determination, lives can be changed, and dreams can be realized.