How lifesaving RUTF helped Simon recover from severe malnutrition in Mutoko

Before Gogo[i] Maidei Nyaumba begins her daily routine at her small rural homestead in Mutoko, a northeastern district of Zimbabwe, she pauses to care for baby Simon, a task that now defines her mornings.

Five months ago, Simon, who was then one year old, was diagnosed with malnutrition. At the time, he was frail and underweight, unable to walk, and depending entirely on his ailing mother, whose own health challenges and deep‑rooted beliefs kept her from seeking help at the hospital.

“Simon was born at home and has never been immunised or treated at a clinic,” Gogo Maidei says, explaining the family’s long‑held beliefs against seeking medical care. “We did not understand how important it is for children to be seen by health workers until Simon became sick.

Zimbabwe continues to face a significant burden of child malnutrition, driven largely by persistent food insecurity, climate‑related shocks, and limited access to diverse diets. This scarcity increases the risk of malnutrition for children.

According to the Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee (ZIMVAC), food insecurity remains a major driver of malnutrition, affecting up to 26 percent of the rural population. The Global Nutrition Report further notes that 23.5 per cent of children under five in Zimbabwe are stunted, reflecting chronic undernutrition driven by persistent droughts, food insecurity, and other social and economic factors that limit access to diverse and nutritious diets

“We barely have enough food for Simon. At my age, working in the fields is hard, and whatever I plant dries up in sun. It worries me because without enough food, a child cannot stay healthy,” says Gogo Maidei. Zimbabwe continues to face a significant burden of child malnutrition, driven largely by persistent food insecurity, climate‑related shocks, and limited access to diverse diets. This scarcity increases the risk of malnutrition for children.

According to the Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee (ZIMVAC), food insecurity remains a major driver of malnutrition, affecting up to 26 percent of the rural population. The Global Nutrition Report further notes that 23.5 per cent of children under five in Zimbabwe are stunted, reflecting chronic undernutrition driven by persistent droughts, food insecurity, and other social and economic factors that limit access to diverse and nutritious diets

“We barely have enough food for Simon. At my age, working in the fields is hard, and whatever I plant dries up in sun. It worries me because without enough food, a child cannot stay healthy,” says Gogo Maidei.

Simon’s path to recovery began when a Village Health Worker (VHW), Caroline, noticed his deteriorating condition. As a neighbour to the family and drawing on the trust she has built within the community, Caroline carefully explained the risks Simon faced, and how the health facilities had the right treatment to ensure his recovery. “The Village Health Worker made us see the sense of taking Simon to the hospital. She helped us overcome our fears and even escorted us to the hospital. Without her, Simon would still be suffering,” says Gogo Maidei, explaining how being introduced to RUTF marked a lifesaving turning point for Simon.

“The Village Health Worker made us see the sense of taking Simon to the hospital. She helped us overcome our fears and even escorted us to the hospital. Without her, Simon would still be suffering,” says Gogo Maidei, explaining how being introduced to RUTF marked a lifesaving turning point for Simon.

After spending more than a month in hospital receiving specialised treatment, Simon was discharged and enrolled in the Community‑Based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) programme. He received 60 sachets of Ready‑to‑Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), a full month’s supply to support his continued recovery at home. His grandmother says she is deeply relieved that these life‑saving sachets were provided to her completely free of charge, which spares her already burdened household from the additional costs of treatment.

At home, Simon takes his Ready‑to‑Use Therapeutic Food as part of his daily routine. His grandmother explains that he is given two sachets a day, in addition to other healthy meal options, which are prepared for him. These nutrient‑packed sachets have become his lifeline, helping him steadily regain strength and the spark he had lost.

“For the past four months, I have visited the local clinic for Simon’s checkup. Each time I go there, they measure his weight, check how he is improving, and then give me more sachets. I am grateful because this is what is helping Simon to recover,” says grandmother, who also acknowledges the VHW support and guidance throughout Simon’s recovery.

Today, thanks to the RUTF, Simon is a different person altogether.  When he catches sight of the red‑and‑white sachet of Ready‑to‑Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), his face lights up. He reaches out eagerly, anticipating the “delicious treat” he has grown to love. What Simon doesn’t know is that with every bite, he is taking a quiet but powerful step toward survival.

Since 2008, donor support from the Government of the UK, the European Union, Irish Aid, Church of the Latter Day Saints and the People’s Republic of China has helped ensure that every hospital in Zimbabwe has RUTF available to support children’s recovery from malnutrition and has helped to ensure the presence of community support systems such as the VHW, who provide critical community-level follow-up.

“Simon can now walk on his own. His energy has returned, and he is now a different child,” says Gogo Maidei, her voice filled with immense relief.

As Simon finishes his sachet, he beams widely, unaware of the challenges he has overcome or the resources invested in his health. His joy is simple, but its significance is profound. Each smile reflects the progress made possible through nutrition support, compassionate caregivers, and the commitment of partners working to ensure that no child suffers from preventable malnutrition.