Fighting child malnutrition in Afghanistan. Health Rehabilitation Afghanistan Humanity & Inclusion has provided stimulation therapy to over 700 toddlers to combat developmental delays caused by malnutrition. Mahira at the centre during a session of Stimulation Therapy | (C) HI The importance of stimulation therapy. Nearly 3.7 million children between 6 months and 5 years old suffered from acute malnutrition in 2025 and 2026 in Afghanistan, around 26% of them severely. Many families struggle to provide their children with even the most basic necessities, including food and health services. For young children, malnutrition heightens the risk of lasting developmental delays, including the inability to stand or to walk. The families supported by its teams. Humanity & Inclusion (HI)'s stimulation therapy services are provided to children aged 6months to 5 years old. The intervention focuses on strengthening children's cognitive, social, emotional, language, and motor development while supporting their nutritional recovery. The families HI supports are among the poorest, drawn from host communities, returnee households, and other at-risk populations. HI provides them with health and nutrition services. Many caregivers also require guidance and practical support to promote their children's development and recovery alongside nutritional treatment. The sessions. The program consists of a cycle of seven sessions over two weeks - always paired with nutrition support from a partner NGO. Each session lasts approximately 30 to 45 minutes and includes age-appropriate play activities, developmental stimulation, and coaching for caregivers to help them continue the activities at home. The caregiver, usually the mother, is always involved. Whenever possible, sessions are coordinated with nutrition follow-up. For example, in Kunduz, children who attend the nutrition department on Monday and Thursday to receive treatment for malnutrition can attend their stimulation therapy session on the same day. For families who miss an appointment, the HI team conducts follow-up phone calls and sends reminders to encourage attendance and completion of the seven-session program. Most beneficiaries attend their scheduled sessions regularly and successfully complete the full cycle. At the end of the seven sessions, mothers see their children standing and attempting to walk. Where HI provides stimulation therapy. HI provides stimulation therapy services at Kunduz Regional Hospital, where a dedicated stimulation therapy unit has been established between the inpatient and outpatient departments. In addition, stimulation therapy services are provided at Atatürk Child Health Hospital in Kabul. Most recently, HI launched stimulation therapy activities in Injil District, Herat Province. HI currently has one dedicated stimulation therapist at each implementation site (in Kunduz, Kabul, and Herat). In total, three HI staff in total are currently providing stimulation therapy services. 730 children supported. Since the introduction of the activity in mid-August 2025, HI has provided stimulation therapy services to 730 children across two provinces - Kunduz and Kabul (data on Herat are not yet available). Of these, 348 were boys and 382 were girls. Date published: 20/08/26 Where Humanity & Inclusion work Choose a country change a life

CoRSU's third anuual Disability Walk targets shs400m for children with Disability. Comprehensive Rehabilitation Services for People with Disability in Uganda (CoRSU Hospital) has launched the third edition of the CoRSU Disability Walk, a nationwide fundraising and disability awareness campaign aimed at raising Shs400 million to provide life-changing surgical and rehabilitation services for 100 children living with disabilities. The annual charity walk, scheduled for Sunday, 4 October 2026 at the MUBS Sports Ground, is expected to bring together thousands of Ugandans, government leaders, corporate organisations, development partners, healthcare professionals, families and disability advocates in a collective effort to improve access to specialised rehabilitation services while promoting disability inclusion across the country. The campaign is organised by CoRSU Hospital in partnership with EMKA Foundation, MUBS, Crown Beverages Limited (Pepsi and Nivana), Great Outdoors, Humanity & Inclusion and Uganda Development Corporation (UDC), with additional partners expected to join as preparations continue. CoRSU also recognised the contribution of donors, including CBM, Hope and Healing International, Smile Train and Miracle Feet, whose support continues to complement proceeds from the annual walk. This year's fundraising target will directly support comprehensive surgical and rehabilitation care for 100 children, with each child requiring an average of Shs4 million for surgery, therapy, assistive devices and follow-up rehabilitation. The funds will also help strengthen critical rehabilitation infrastructure, enabling CoRSU Hospital to reach more children in need of specialised care. The campaign comes amid growing demand for paediatric orthopaedic and rehabilitation services in Uganda, where nearly 300 children remain on surgical waiting lists every year due to inadequate funding. Topics you might like. By achieving this year's target, CoRSU aims to reduce the annual backlog of unfunded surgeries by approximately 33 percent, giving more children an opportunity to walk, attend school, play and live more independent lives. Now in its third year, the CoRSU Disability Walk has grown into one of Uganda's leading disability advocacy initiatives, bringing communities and institutions together around the shared goal of ensuring disability does not become a barrier to opportunity. The initiative continues to make a significant impact. During the 2025 edition, the campaign raised more than Shs71 million, enabling 17 children to receive orthopaedic and plastic surgeries, 21 patients to access rehabilitation services, and 62 patients to benefit from other specialised medical care. The achievements build on CoRSU Hospital's wider contribution since its establishment in 2006. The hospital has conducted more than 70,000 life-changing surgeries and rehabilitated over 100,000 patients, making it one of East Africa's leading centres for specialised orthopaedic surgery and rehabilitation. Each year, CoRSU performs between 2,500 and 5,246 surgical procedures and provides approximately 12,500 therapy sessions, with children accounting for nearly 80 percent of all surgeries. The launch was presided over by Patrick Menya, a Social Gerontologist from the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, who attended as the Guest of Honour and called on Ugandans to unite in supporting children living with disabilities. "The strength of a nation is reflected in how it cares for its most vulnerable citizens. Every child deserves the opportunity to live a healthy, dignified and productive life regardless of their circumstances," Menya said. He added that the CoRSU Disability Walk represents a commitment to restoring hope, creating opportunities and removing barriers that limit children living with disabilities. "I encourage every Ugandan, every corporate organisation and every institution to join this noble cause on 4th October and help transform lives," he said. Menya also commended CoRSU Hospital and its partners for advancing disability inclusion, noting that collective action is critical in ensuring persons with disabilities enjoy equal opportunities. "Disability inclusion is not solely the responsibility of government; it requires all of us. Initiatives such as the CoRSU Disability Walk demonstrate what can be achieved when government, the private sector, development partners and communities work together," he said. Speaking on behalf of CoRSU Hospital, Chief Executive Officer Robert Ochai said the campaign represents an investment in Uganda's future and the wellbeing of children. "Behind every child waiting for surgery is a family waiting for hope. Every contribution made through this campaign translates into a child walking again, returning to school, gaining confidence and living a fuller life," Ochai said. He said the hospital's target this year reflects the growing need for specialised care but expressed confidence that support from partners, sponsors and the public will help transform the lives of at least 100 children. "Together, we can prove that disability should never define a child's future," Ochai added. According to the Uganda National Population and Housing Census, 12.5 percent of Uganda's population lives with some form of disability, while many childhood disabilities can be prevented or effectively managed through timely access to specialised healthcare. However, for many families, the cost of treatment remains unaffordable, making initiatives such as the CoRSU Disability Walk a lifeline for children whose futures depend on timely medical intervention. Members of the public, corporate organisations, schools, families and development partners have been encouraged to participate in the 3rd CoRSU Disability Walk on Sunday, 4 October 2026 at MUBS Sports Ground through sponsorships, donations and team registrations. Every step taken and every contribution made will help restore mobility, dignity and hope to children living with disabilities.