Many children who arrive at our facilities have not eaten a satisfying meal for days, weeks or even months. They’re malnourished and their body knows it. They’ve often reached the stage when they no longer want to eat. Their body starts shutting down and leaves them fragile. The journey back to health is composed of simple things - low calorie milk, antibiotics, oral fluids and hourly attention to detail.
However, there comes a turning point when the initial phase ends and recovery truly begins. This is called the ‘appetite test’ and it’s the best moment of my day. It happens when the child no longer has dangerous medical problems, and their gut has recovered enough to tolerate more ‘normal’ foods.
The medical team decides, when it’s time. The ‘Plumpy’nut’ paste is carefully divided and presented to the mother. The child normally takes a first look with suspicion. They’ve been prodded and poked and stabbed with needles for days so they’re naturally suspicious. Then they take a sniff. The mother raises a small taste to their lips. They take it, then frown a little, expecting to hate it. Then the taste hits them – the first proper taste of food they may have had in a long time. They reflect, look down at the sachet and suddenly it’s time for another taste. And a third. The child’s face lights up and the medical team exchange knowing smiles. “Positive”, they whisper at each other. Finally, the child has remembered what it’s like to want to eat. It is also the sign that they’re close to being discharged from the hospital in order to continue their long journey of recovery at home.