UNICEF's RUTF + Play as Nutrition Therapy
How ready-to-use therapeutic food, play and parental bonding helped a young boy recover from severe acute malnutrition in Sierra Leone.
At just 8 months old, Miracle — looking fatigued, apathetic and extremely thin — was rushed to Bo Government Hospital in southern Sierra Leone, where he was diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition (SAM).
At the health facility, Miracle received immediate treatment, including ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF), a nutrient-dense peanut paste specifically designed to treat young children with SAM. Through consistent treatment and round-the-clock care from his parents, Miracle gradually gained strength, began to sit up and became more active.
RUTF has helped save millions of children's lives since it was introduced 30 years ago. Each year, UNICEF delivers nearly 1 billion sachets of RUTF, reaching over 9 million children around the world. Nine in 10 children treated with RUTF make a full recovery, often within weeks.
Learn more about the ready-to-use therapeutic food that is saving children's lives
The power of play in supporting a malnourished child's recovery
But the therapeutic food was only part of the program. Nurses at the treatment center in Bo also encouraged Miracle’s parents to gently play with their child whenever he was more alert.
“Integrating play into the inpatient facility treatment process is critical in helping malnourished children respond faster to treatment,” explained Nurse Hannah, the health worker who looked after Miracle.
Play helps children recovering from malnutrition to regain physical strength while also supporting motor skills, cognitive abilities and social-emotional development. When parents play with their children, the close interaction and bonding help parents tune into their child’s physical and emotional needs. Understanding their child’s needs makes parents better able to meet them.
Thanks to the timely RUTF treatment, Miracle’s condition improved significantly, and he was soon well enough to be discharged from the treatment center. But his recovery did not end at the hospital doors.
Miracle’s parents received RUTF sachets to support continued treatment at home. They also learned the importance of continuing to play with him at home to prevent relapse and boost both his short- and long-term development.
Learn more about the importance of play for children's health and well-being
Benefits of integrating cut-out toy designs into RUTF packaging
Toy designs are printed and pre-cut into RUTF cardboard packaging, giving the cartons a second life as playthings. Adopting a holistic approach to malnutrition treatment, UNICEF also trains treatment facility staff to use the cut-out toys to inspire parents to play with their recovering children.
The toy designs were developed in partnership with design and packaging experts from UNICEF partners LEGO, IKEA and Mondi, as well as early childhood development, disability and sustainability experts from UNICEF, University College London and Oxford University, as part of an initiative called Project Play.
From toy cars and airplanes to balls and rocking teddy bears, the easy-to-assemble toys help stimulate recovering children in Sierra Leone as well as Uganda and Pakistan.
Caregiver guidance part of the program
One of Nurse Hannah’s responsibilities is to show parents at the treatment center how to use the repurposed cardboard packaging to play with their children, and to motivate them to incorporate play as part of their home routine.
For little Miracle, play had been a luxury. Not only because most store-bought toys are out of reach for families with a meagre income, but also because Miracle’s parents did not know that something as simple as play could support his recovery.
“I never thought about playing with him as something important," Miracle’s father said.
I never thought about playing with him as something important. — Miracle’s father
Intrigued by the carton toys at the treatment center, Miracle’s father began crafting his own toy vehicles from carton boxes at home, everything from trucks to tractors. Miracle loved them all, and the process brought the entire family together around creativity and play.
"We saw how much he loved the toy car, so we made more at home," Miracle's mother said. "Now he plays with them all the time with his siblings. It has brought play into our home.”
Learn more about how UNICEF Fights Child Hunger and works with partners to ensure every child is nourished
This story is based on an article previously published by UNICEF Supply Division
UNICEF does not endorse any brand, company, organization, product or service.
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