Precious, 13 – Nutrition, Child Health

Calabar, Nigeria: Precious, age 13, was being sexually exploited in the same brothel as her mother by some of the same clients. Her mother died in July, 2024, and the brothel owner called our local partner because Blessing appeared to be sick. In fact, she just weighed 72 pounds and the doctor diagnosed her with HIV and presumptive TB. She was hospitalized for about a week to be treated and gain some weight and strength. While we support a shelter in this town, Precious could not go there because she could infect other mothers and children with TB. So our local partners arranged for her to stay with her elderly grandmother in the village and provided food so the grandmother could feed Precious. She is still with her grandmother recovering.