Medair’s efforts to treat malnutrition in Afghanistan

On a cloudy, cold morning, we headed to a remote village where Medair provides health and nutrition services to women and children in need. As we arrived at the clinic, we were met with a large crowd of women and children. To ensure our visit was culturally appropriate and avoid any embarrassment to the women, the clinic supervisor called to the women to cover their faces before we entered. Passing through the crowd, we made our way into the clinic’s nutrition section, where we met Mansor and his mother.  

Mansor, a 10-month-old boy, weighs just 6.6 kg, with a mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) of 12 cm – below the normal weight for a child his age. He has been diagnosed with malnutrition. His mother shared her concerns:  

“My son Mansor looks weak. This is our first visit. Mansor cries day and night, and he has not grown in a long time. When I learned that Medair was providing services in our area, I decided to come to this clinic The moment I stepped inside, I felt a strange sense of hope for Mansor. The doctors checked him thoroughly and told me he is malnourished. They were right – we often struggle to find our next meal. Today, they provided us with supplements. For the first time in a while, Mansor calmed down and even smiled when the doctor examined him.”

Mansor is now receiving nutrition support from Medair’smedical staff, offering a lifeline to his mother and countless others facing similar hardships.

The next patient, Lema, is a 15-month-old girl whose health has significantly improved since her first visit to the clinic. In late 2024, she weighed just 7.3 kg with a MUAC of 12.3 cm. After receiving treatment, her weight increased to 7.9 kg and her MUAC improved to 12.8 cm. Her mother shared her experience:

“My daughter’s health has changed for the better. We don’t have much food to eat, and not long ago, Lema was in a bad condition – I was so worried about her. When I brought her to the clinic, the doctors treated us with respect and provided nutrition supplements. She gained weight by eating them – they’ve made a real difference. Other foods don’t seem to help as much, but these supplements are truly effective. I’m happy.”  

The nutrition supplements Medair provides, Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) and Ready-to-Use Supplementary Food (RUSF), are essential in treating malnutrition among children under five.

The gratitude of these women and children extends to everyone who supports Medair’s mission, no matter how big or small their contribution . Maryam, a female medical staff member at the clinic, reflected on the impact of their work:

“I see hope in the eyes of the women and children who come here – this clinic is their only hope. Women travel from distant villages, and when they express their happiness after receiving our services, my exhaustion disappears. Despite the many challenges I face, I enjoy my work.”

This year, 3.5 million children are projected to be acutely malnourished in Afghanistan; 2025 will mark the fifth consecutive year that a record number of children have been burdened. In addition, 1 million pregnant and lactating women are suffering from acute malnutrition.  

Medair continues to serve some of the most remote communities in Afghanistan, providing an integrated approach to health and nutrition services. This includes not only treatment but also hygiene and sanitation support, as well as training in essential health and nutrition practices like breastfeeding. Medair focuses primarily on children under five and pregnant and lactating women –those most vulnerable to malnutrition.  

Many of these communities have been deeply affected by a climate change-induced water crisis, entrenched poverty and decades of conflict. Without Medair’s support, they would have little to no access to these critical services, often facing long and difficult journeys to seek medical help.  

In these remote villages, hope comes in the form of a clinic, dedicated staff and the unwavering commitment to saving lives – one child at a time.

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Pseudonyms have been used for the people in the story to protect their identities.

This content was produced with resources gathered by Medair field and headquarters staff. The views expressed herein are those solely of Medair and should not be taken, in any way, to reflect the official opinion of any other organisation.

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