Hope and Health for Bobby:
A Journey Out of Malnutrition in Liberia
Tanneh and her son Bobby, in front of their home © Unicef/Vincent Tremeau/Studio Humanity
Tanneh P. Doe’s (29) face lights up when she talks about her son, Bobby, who is 11 months old. Six months ago, she feared for his health. Like many mothers in her community, Tanneh was hopeful but unsure about her young child's future. After Bobby’s birth, she did everything she knew to help him grow strong and healthy. But as he reached six months, Bobby struggled to eat, refusing solid foods. He became weaker, often sick, and Tanneh felt helpless.
“I took him to the clinic near us in Gardnersville when I saw he wasn’t improving,” she explained. “The nurse asked me what was wrong, and I told her everything.”
Nurse asseses babies' health conditions by checking their weight in Gardnersville, Greater District of Monrovia, Liberia © Unicef/Vincent Tremeau/Studio Humanity
The clinic staff assessed Bobby’s condition and found he was moderately malnourished. They offered Tanneh counselling on nutrition and introduced her to a lifesaving intervention that was new to her: micronutrient powder, which is packed with essential vitamins and minerals. She learned how adding just a small amount of this powder to his food could make a big difference in his growth and overall health.
A food chart in Gardnersville Clinic, Liberia © Unicef/Vincent Tremeau/Studio Humanity
“She told me the powder would help him recover, to grow stronger,”
Tanneh said. She also learned the importance of continuing breastfeeding, along with introducing nutritious foods. “I kept breastfeeding and tried feeding him solid foods. But with the powder, I saw changes almost immediately.”
Nurses keep track on every child's improvement in Gardnersville Clinic © Unicef/Vincent Tremeau/Studio Humanity
The results were beyond what Tanneh could have hoped for. After starting the powder, Bobby began to eat with more enthusiasm. His energy returned, and he was feeling better, falling ill far less frequently. “He started having an appetite, eating well, and became so much stronger. Before, I used to take him from hospital to hospital,” she shared, “but now he’s healthy and hasn’t needed to go back.”
Tanneh and Bobby © Unicef/Vincent Tremeau/Studio Humanity
Through UNICEF-supported programs, facilities like the one in Gardnersville are providing parents with free, critical health services that can change lives. Tanneh expressed her gratitude, saying,
“I didn’t have to pay anything for all the help they gave us. It was all free of charge. I want to say a very big thank you to UNICEF.”
Now Tanneh dreams of a bright future for her son. “I hope he grows to be a doctor,” she says with a smile. For now, though, Tanneh’s hope is grounded in the small, powerful steps she’s taken to support Bobby’s health—and in her encouragement to other mothers. “If their child is weak or sick, don’t be discouraged. Take them to the clinic. The people there will help us to put our children back on their feet.”
Today, Tanneh continues to take Bobby for regular checkups at the clinic. With renewed confidence, she looks forward to seeing her child grow into the strong, healthy person she knows he can be. Her story, like many others, is a a beautiful example to the strength of mothers, the impact of accessible healthcare, and the life-changing power of proper nutrition.