Tidjani’s Story: How a Community Approach Helped a Baby Recover
The atmosphere is festive in the refugee camp of Mbile, in the region located towards the eastern part of Cameroon. A large family is huddled together and sitting on mats on the ground. Bursts of laughter fill the room, and some babies cry. It is a special atmosphere for this Muslim home because it is the eve of the Ramadan holiday, and the women are trying to make themselves more beautiful. Tidjani’s infectious smile and lively demeanor create a festive atmosphere among the women.
Until a few months ago, his family could not have imagined that this eight-month-old child would still have all the strength, joy, smiles and health he exudes to celebrate one of the community’s most memorable holidays with them. Fati, his mother of 17 years, said she wasn’t sure whether he would survive “Two months ago, my son caught a disease that destroyed his body, so I cry with happiness when I see him healthy today”, she said.
The case of Tidjani was discovered during a door-to-door awareness raising visit by some members of the Community Child Protection Network (RECOPE). Although his mother was hesitant at first, she was eventually convinced to take him to the hospital for treatment. After an evaluation, he was immediately referred to the District Hospital where he received an integrated child protection package that provides first aid. During his treatment, the team took the opportunity to educate the mother on the importance of the boy’s personal hygiene and clothing, as the rash was contagious. The doctor reported that after three days of treatment and following the guidelines, they observed a clear improvement in Tidjani’s general condition, and the gradual disappearance of the rash.
Sadly, in this refugee camp, at least two out of three households struggle to provide their children with proper nutrition and primary healthcare. When children fall ill, many families have no means to take them to a health facility. To address this issue, UNICEF supports a general protection approach for children through the implementation of RECOPE, focusing on interventions related to health, nutrition, and education.
“Beyond protection against violence through awareness raising, we come to the rescue of urgent cases whose lack of intervention could make the situation complicated, as was the case of Tidjani, who received punctual support. We can salute the good collaboration with health facilities. Despite the small sum allocated to this case, which is only 10,000 CFA francs, we managed to avoid the worst,” said a member of RECOPE.
In the targeted communes of the Eastern region, approximately four children received health support, including sensitization of parents and referral to health centers over a year. The KOICA-funded project for protecting children affected by the Central African crisis highlights the importance of community mechanisms in child protection. Tidjani’s story encouraged other families to report their children’s health issues promptly.
