Sunday June 5, 2016
By Paul Bridgewater
Kedra and Unicef UK Ambassador Eddie Izzard at Tadjourah health centre
Eddie Izzard travelled to Djibouti where chronic drought and spiralling food prices have left many babies and children starving. He met one-year-old Kadra who lives in the remote village of Otoye. This is her story.
Kadra is suffering from severe acute malnutrition and is near death. Her body has been reduced almost entirely to skin and bones.
Kadra’s parents were doing their best to care for her, but they couldn’t afford to feed her the right diet – she ate barely any protein or fruits and vegetables. The only source of water in the village was a rain-fed hole a few kilometres away, but the water was not drinkable.And even though Kadra was critically ill, her parents couldn’t afford the transport costs to take her to hospital. The walk would have taken two days in weather that reaches 50 degrees centigrade.
Luckily, doctors from the Unicef supported mobile clinic discovered her, and in an attempt to save her life, rushed her to the nearest hospital themselves. These mobile health clinics travel to remote communities, helping to support children who likely would otherwise not be reached with medical care.
In hospital, Kadra was treated with life-saving food supplements, giving her the nutrients she needed. Five months later and Kadra looks like and entirely different child. She has put on more weight and while she still has a long way to go, she’s responding to the treatment and slowly getting better.
Just £5 could pay for a week’s supply of life-saving therapeutic food for a child like Kadra. Every pound you donate to Unicef for our Soccer Aid appeal will be doubled by the UK Government.
Please, give now and help Unicef keep children like Kadra safe.