NIGER / MALIAN REFUGEES

UNICEF is calling on the international community to intensify efforts and mobilize all means necessary to save the lives of vulnerable Malian refugee children in Niger. UNICEF

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:34
• Production Date: 18 March 2013
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN'S FUND - UNICEF
• Subject Topical: REFUGEES; DISPLACED PERSONS
• Geographic Subject: MALI; NIGER
• MAMS Id: U130318d

Description

STORY: NIGER / MALIAN REFUGEES
TRT: 2.34
SOURCE: UNICEF
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: FRENCH / ZARMA / NATS

DATELINE: 27 FEBRUARY 2013, MANGAIZE, OUALLAM, NIGER

Shotlist

1. Various, Mariama and her family at the camp
2. SOUNDBITE (Zarma) a woman speaking on behalf of Mariama [Mariama has some difficulties communicating]:
“It has been 25 days since Ouda is sick. When the mother tried to feed Ouda, she keeps vomiting, she has fever every night. On the road, they ate only once a day, some dough made of millet and oil.”
3. Various, feeding centre
4. SOUNDBITE (French) Abdramane Sadou Gada, Nutritionist, Islamic Relief Worldwide:
“The most important thing in the screening process is to detect malnutrition amongst the children. If we find a child who is moderately or severely malnourished, we refer them to the Mangaize health centre for treatment.”
5. Various, Ouda is checked for malnutrition
6. SOUNDBITE (French) Dr. Issufou Boubay, Chief, Mangaize Health Centre:
“She is severely malnourished with medical complications. She needs to be referred for intensive medical care. Treating her with just therapeutic food is not going to cure her.”
7. Various, mother and child en route to hospital.
8. SOUNDBITE (French) Mohamane Nassirou Issoufou, Senior Nurse, CRENI, Ouallam District:
“She will recover, God willing, within a short time.”
9. Various, health centre

Storyline

Mariama Sadou and her three young children – Adamou, Hawa, and Ouda – fled Mali four weeks ago to escape the violence. The family is now living in the Mangaize camp. The long journey out of Mali has exhausted the family. But for little Ouda, who is only 12 months, it was unbearable.

SOUNDBITE (Zarma) a woman speaking on behalf of Mariama [Mariama has some difficulties communicating]:
“It has been 25 days since Ouda is sick. When the mother tried to feed Ouda, she keeps vomiting, she has fever every night. On the road, they ate only once a day, some dough made of millet and oil,”

Mariama brings Ouda to a UNICEF-supported feeding center in the camp, where all the children are given nutritious meals three times a day.

Once every month, the children are also screened for malnutrition.

SOUNDBITE (French) Abdramane Sadou Gada, Nutritionist, Islamic Relief Worldwide:
“The most important thing in the screening process is to detect malnutrition amongst the children. If we find a child who is moderately or severely malnourished, we refer them to the Mangaize health centre for treatment.”

A nutritionist puts a mid-upper circumference band on Ouda’s left arm. The band lands in the red section, an indication that Ouda is suffering from severe acute malnutrition. Ouda is immediately referred to the health centre, close to the camp, for treatment.

At the health centre, the nurse evaluates Ouda’s weight-to-height ratio. Ouda weighs only 5.8 kilograms. A child of her height should normally weigh 7.1 kilograms. Ouda is also suffering from diarrhea.

SOUNDBITE (French) Dr. Issufou Boubay, Chief, Mangaize Health Centre:
“She is severely malnourished with medical complications. She needs to be referred for intensive medical care. Treating her with just therapeutic food is not going to cure her.”

Mariama and Ouda are back in their tent to get ready for their trip to the nearest district hospital, 45 kilometres away from the camp.

Mariama packs a change of clothes, a plastic mat, and a blanket. She does not know exactly when they will come back, but she is certain of one thing: little Ouda is going to be fine.

After an hour drive in an ambulance over a dusty and bumpy road, Mariama and Ouda arrive at Ouallam district hospital.

In the emergency room, the nurse is doing various diagnostic tests to spot the infections and medical complications Ouda is suffering from. Preliminary test results confirm that Ouda should be hospitalized in the Nutrition Rehabilitation Ward for close monitoring. Mohamane Sassirou Issoufou, a senior nurse in the Ouallam District hospital is optimistic about Ouda’s situation.

SOUNDBITE (French) Mohamane Nassirou Issoufou, Senior Nurse, CRENI, Ouallam District:
“She will recover, God willing, within a short time.”

Many children like Ouda are receiving the most-needed health care in their new host country Niger, one of the countries in the world with high malnutrition rates. The needs are dire.