We want to share with you the story of just one of the children, whose life has been changed thanks to everyone who donated, through crowdfunding, to our Nutrition programme. Gladys is 6 years old and was brought to the Tiny Tim & Friends Clinic in 2015 by her grandmother who was concerned with a persistent cough and considerable weight loss. Upon testing it was discovered she was HIV+. Gladys weighed just 12kgs (26lbs) putting her below the 1st percentile on the BMI index and classifying her as considerably underweight.
Only one month into the nutrition programme Gladys had gained 4kgs (almost 9lbs) and her general health and well-being had improved significantly, enabling her to go back to school. Over the course of the next 6 months, Gladys continued to gain weight and grow, even after she had left the programme - gaining over 6kgs (14lbs) in total and growing 10cm in height. She is a true success story of how a boost in nutrition, and education around food hygiene and nutrition can make a life changing difference to the children we work with.
We spoke to her Grandmother, Janet, about the impact the food support and nutritional advice had for her family:
Only one month into the nutrition programme Gladys had gained 4kgs (almost 9lbs) and her general health and well-being had improved significantly, enabling her to go back to school. Over the course of the next 6 months, Gladys continued to gain weight and grow, even after she had left the programme - gaining over 6kgs (14lbs) in total and growing 10cm in height. She is a true success story of how a boost in nutrition, and education around food hygiene and nutrition can make a life changing difference to the children we work with.
We spoke to her Grandmother, Janet, about the impact the food support and nutritional advice had for her family:
"NOW GLADYS HAS GAINED WEIGHT AND IS MANAGING (TO TAKE) HER
MEDICATION BETTER SHE IS GOING BACK TO SCHOOL"
"I have cared for Gladys for most of her life, as both of her parents have died. I own the family home but we live there with 15 other family members, selling vegetables to make money for food - usually making about 300 kwacha a week to feed the entire family (less than $30).
I took Gladys to the TTF clinic as I was worried about her weight and after speaking to a woman in the community thought she may be HIV+. The food we have been getting from TTF helps so much. Before we could only feed Gladys at breakfast and in the evening and now she has 3 meals a day and snacks. The food is also helping with her taking her medication which was previously making her sick when she took it without eating.
We have always tried to make her go to school but since she has become sicker she was missing more and more. Now she has gained weight and is managing on her medication better so is going back to school.
The nutritional talks are also helping me in thinking about how to care for Gladys and prepare her meals - I have also been sharing this with my daughters and supporting my other grandchildren with this knowledge. Understanding food hygiene and thinking about where we get our water is helping to prevent stomach issues for the whole family.
I am too thankful to this support and I try and encourage the younger mothers in the programme to think about how they are using the food to help their children gain weight and become more healthy like Gladys."
Find out more about our nutrition programme and how you can support children like Gladys.
I took Gladys to the TTF clinic as I was worried about her weight and after speaking to a woman in the community thought she may be HIV+. The food we have been getting from TTF helps so much. Before we could only feed Gladys at breakfast and in the evening and now she has 3 meals a day and snacks. The food is also helping with her taking her medication which was previously making her sick when she took it without eating.
We have always tried to make her go to school but since she has become sicker she was missing more and more. Now she has gained weight and is managing on her medication better so is going back to school.
The nutritional talks are also helping me in thinking about how to care for Gladys and prepare her meals - I have also been sharing this with my daughters and supporting my other grandchildren with this knowledge. Understanding food hygiene and thinking about where we get our water is helping to prevent stomach issues for the whole family.
I am too thankful to this support and I try and encourage the younger mothers in the programme to think about how they are using the food to help their children gain weight and become more healthy like Gladys."
Find out more about our nutrition programme and how you can support children like Gladys.
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