The Journey of Malik and His Mother’s Determination

Malik and his mother

Salamatu, a mother of four, anxiously awaited the birth of her fifth child in a small town in Ghana. Her previous pregnancies had been challenging, but this time, something felt different. The delivery was complicated, and when baby Malik was born, he weighed only 1.9 kilograms. The joy of his birth was overshadowed by fear and uncertainty.

For Salamatu, the sight of her tiny, fragile son was heartbreaking. She knew that at such a low birth weight, Malik faced serious health risks. As a mother, she was desperate to give him the strength he needed to survive but felt lost and unsure of how to best care for him.

It was during this challenging time that the Self-Help International GHFGHC program reached out to her. Through the program, Salamatu learned about the life-saving practice of exclusive breastfeeding, especially critical during the first 1,000 days of a child’s life. She discovered how exclusive breastfeeding could provide Abdul Malik with the essential nutrients to grow and thrive.

With this newfound knowledge, Salamatu embraced exclusive breastfeeding with unwavering dedication. Every day, she nourished Abdul Malik with love and determination. Slowly but surely, her efforts bore fruit. At his three-month checkup, Abdul Malik had grown to 3.5 kilograms—a significant improvement that brought Salamatu hope and relief.

Reflecting on her journey, Salamatu shared, “When I first saw Malik, I was so scared. He was so small, and I didn’t know how I could help him survive. But when I learned about exclusive breastfeeding, I realized I had the power to give him the best chance. Seeing him grow stronger has been the greatest joy of my life.”

Malik is now 6 months and a week old

Now, at six months and one week old, Malik is thriving. His story is a testament to the power of education and community support. For Salamatu, the guidance she received through the program has not only saved her son but also empowered her as a mother. This journey of hope and resilience highlights the extraordinary impact of a mother’s love, determination, and the support of programs like SHI Growing Healthy Food Growing Healthy Children (GHFGHC).

Your support makes stories like this possible. When you donate to Self-Help International, you provide life-saving education and resources to mothers like Salamatu, empowering them to nurture healthy, thriving children. Together, we can create brighter futures for more families.

Thank you for standing with us and making a difference! Your generosity is transforming lives, one family at a time.