unconditional love
Hospital - Beira Central Hospital
In the malnutrition clinic acutely malnourished children are treated. In Mozambique approximately 6% of children under 5 years are chronically malnourished - about 250,000 in absolute numbers. The causes are HIV, diseases such as malaria, pneumonia or lack of food related to poverty. Treatment of acute malnutrition takes approximately 20 days. Normally children suffering from acute malnutrition can be fully cured without any lasting damage.
The Central Hospital in the city of Beira is the only hospital for four districts. More than 9 million people are dependent on the Central Hospital. Quote of doctor: "I'd rather see 20 acutely malnourished children than 10 chronically malnourished children. Acutely malnourished children, I can get healthy again, but the damage from chronic malnutrition is irreversible."
Parents or grandparents are with the children night and day. In the days I visited the clinic I got to know them a little better. What I saw was unconditional love and this is how I wanted to portray them.