Maintaining the Longview
Nirma was just diagnosed with malnutrition…for the second time.
When Nirma was first diagnosed with acute malnutrition, we provided urgent treatment and counseled her mother, Bifana Rajbhar, about ways to keep Nirma healthy. But months later, because of rising food costs and dwindling income, Bifana struggles to feed Nirma the right foods — and enough food.
Unfortunately, Nirma is not alone.
Every minute a child becomes severely malnourished.
When a child’s brain and body are starved of nutrients, they don’t develop properly. This is called wasting, a leading cause of unnecessary deaths. Yet even when children survive, they are dangerously susceptible to disease. Treatment can alleviate some effects of wasting, but the terrible truth is that these children will suffer throughout their lives. Their potential is forever diminished.
Today, 1 in every 10 people — as many as 828 million — do not have enough nutritious food to eat. A whole generation may be lost, and the clock is ticking.
I feel most helpless when my children tell me they are hungry.
Nirma’s mother Bifana
The war in Ukraine has worsened the global hunger crisis.
The combined effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, climate crises, and war in Ukraine have delivered a terrible blow to families already struggling with decades of local conflicts, terrorism, and broken food and healthcare systems. Widespread food and fuel shortages, along with inflation rising into the double digits, make it nearly impossible for families living on less than $2 a day to survive.
Children are at greatest risk. They need our help.
The Helen Keller community is working hand-in-hand with communities around the world. In many, we have been a trusted partner for decades. We have been a constant in the lives of thousands of families, supporting them in times of urgent need and strengthening healthcare and food systems to help them weather long-term challenges. Now we’re being called on to do more.
The actions we take today may be our most important.
No one can solve these problems alone — it will take all of us working together to reach the children and families most vulnerable to severe hunger. But we must act now, as parents face their worst fears: How will they feed their children today? How will they survive this crisis over the long term?
Your gift helps deliver the right support at the right time.
Timely diagnosis and treatment for malnutrition so children like can have healthy futures.
Therapeutic foods fortified with essential nutrients so children can grow strong.
Vitamin A supplements so children can see clearly and fight off disease.
Education so mothers can grow nutrient-rich foods for their children and sell surplus produce.
Helen said, “I will not just live my life. I will not just spend my life. I will invest my life.”
