When Keza* was just two months old, she was too weak to breastfeed properly and continued losing weight. Her mother, Tina*, remembers the fear of watching her baby struggle to breathe. She was immediately rushed to Save the Children Health facility where screening showed that she was suffering from Severe acute Malnutrition. (SAM). With support from Save the Children, funded by the U.S. Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (BPRM), and other partners, Keza gradually regained her strength. Today, she can sit, walk independently, and play with other children. Her MUAC increased from 7.5 cm to 16.7 cm, while her weight rose from 2.0 kg to 14.5 kg - a recovery that gave Tina back her peace of mind and Keza a chance to thrive.
Keza* was born at Nkamira Transit Centre for asylum seekers in northwestern Rwanda after her mother, Tina*, fled conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo while pregnant.
At two months old, Keza developed respiratory complications that made breastfeeding difficult. At the same time, Tina experienced challenges with breastmilk production, which affected her daughter's nutrition. As a result, Keza gradually lost weight and experienced delays in reaching developmental milestones.
"My child had respiratory difficulties and could not breastfeed properly because breathing was difficult for her. Health workers advised me to press breastmilk into a container so she could continue receiving essential nutrients while helping me maintain my milk supply," Tina recalls.
With funding from BPRM, Save the Children enrolled Keza in a nutrition support programme and closely monitored her recovery. She received treatment for acute malnutrition, while Tina received nutritional support, including fortified porridge, to improve her own nutritional status and support breastfeeding. Save the Children also referred Keza to Gisenyi District Hospital for specialized medical care.
The results were not long in coming and Keza's condition improved significantly. Today, she can sit, walk independently, and play with other children.
Her mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) increased from 7.5 cm to 16.7 cm, while her weight rose from 2.0 kg to 14.5 kg, reflecting the combined impact of medical treatment, nutrition support, and continued follow-up care.
“When my daughter was about 1½ years old she weighed only about 2 to 2.5 kg and her MUAC was 7.5 cm. As her health improved, she gradually gained strength and weight," Tina says.
Between January and June 2026, nutrition services screened 2,825 children under five years of age for malnutrition across Mahama and Nyabiheke refugee camps and Nkamira Transit Centre. Among children identified with acute malnutrition, 336 received treatment, and more than 89 per cent recovered, demonstrating the importance of early screening, timely treatment, and caregiver support in improving child health outcomes.
