In a remote Afghan village, 18-month-old Zarin* has faced the life-threatening challenges of severe acute malnutrition (SAM). While her mother was away receiving treatment for a chronic illness in Kabul, Zarin* lacked the care she needed. Her father, the sole breadwinner, works with a wheelbarrow in the local market, struggling to provide their family with a meagre income that sometimes left them without food on days he couldn’t work.

Zarin* is one of nine family members, with five sisters and a brother. Daily meals in her household were sparse: breakfast was usually just bread and tea, while lunch and dinner often consisted of nothing more than boiled potatoes. Recognising the urgency of her daughter’s condition, Zarin’s* mother rushed back to the village and took her to the Save the Children-supported permanent health facility funded by the Freeman Foundation. From there, Zarin was referred to the Therapeutic Feeding Unit (TFU), where she received nine days of specialised care.

Now under ongoing treatment at the static facility, Zarin* is receiving ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) and necessary medications, bringing her closer to recovery and a more normal childhood.

Ziba* (35), Zarin’s* mother, shared her experience:

“After checking the critical condition of my child, they [permanent health facility doctors] advised me to admit my daughter to the clinic [Save the Children’s Therapeutic Feeding Unit (TFU)] in another district. She was treated for nine days there and made it through the critical phase.”

Reflecting on the hardships they face, she explained, “One of my problems with children getting malnourished is the lack of food. When my husband works, we have something to eat, but otherwise, we spend some nights without dinner. Our food routine is clear: in the morning, we have bread with tea, and for lunch and dinner, we have boiled potatoes.”

Expressing her gratitude, she added, “I am happy that we have a health clinic [supported by Save the Children] here. They provide medicine and supplementary food [RUTF] regularly for the children and elders, and it’s not far from our village, so I can bring my child regularly.”