“[Samer] was always distracted,” said his kindergarten teacher. “He used to just put his head on the table during class … and rarely wanted to play with his friends. ”
When children don’t get the nutrition they need, it can seriously affect their development. And in Gaza, where jobs and incomes are limited, families often struggle to provide enough nutritious food to keep growing children healthy—especially if they’ve never learned how to make informed food choices. Malnutrition among Gaza’s children is common, and it turned out that four-year-old Samer (not his real name) needed specialized treatment.
Samer’s kindergarten is one of 12 in underserved areas of Gaza that have partnered with IOCC to screen students for health issues and to help connect them to specialized care if they need it.
When screening revealed that Samer had anemia—a severe iron deficiency—staff referred him and his family to a clinic for in-depth testing and treatment. Supplements and fortified snacks gave Samer the boost he needed, and soon his tests were coming back normal. He returned to kindergarten much healthier overall; now Samer can concentrate on lessons and has energy to play both at school and at home.
Alongside the health screenings, IOCC is offering nutrition classes for parents, teachers, and other caregivers, sharing the knowledge they need to make healthy food choices for the children and themselves. Samer’s mother, for example, has improved her family’s diet by replacing junk food with more nutritious options, even with their limited income.
“I thank [you] so much,” said Samer’s mother, “for saving my child through the treatment … and for the opportunity [you] gave us to improve his life and future.”
