A Father’s Hope: Little Joshua’s Journey to Recovery

“His favorite food is pumpkin mixed with sunshine milk and eggs,” says Benny, gently holding his son Joshua, who babbles cheerfully in his baby language. After almost two years of fatherhood, Benny has finally discovered his son’s favorite meal and is learning to respond to his needs with growing confidence.

Earlier this year, we shared the story of Baby Joshua, who was severely underweight and suffering from malnutrition. At the time, he was unable to eat. But thanks to nutritious diets provided through the Better Enhanced Agriculture for Nutrition (BEAN) Project, Joshua had his first proper meal, and his journey to recovery began.

Today, Joshua is showing remarkable progress. His body reflexes have improved; he can now move his arms and legs, and he’s beginning to respond when his parents call his name. His once lifeless gaze has been replaced with curiosity and energy.

Village Health Assistant (VHA), Igiya Robin, shared, “Joshua now weighs 8.9 kg. When he began the special diet, he was only 6.9 kg, underweight for a baby his age. After starting nutritional meals, his weight steadily improved. During my recent visit, I was amazed as he was moving his arms and legs, trying to talk, and responding to his parents’ voices.”

Joshua is the eldest child of Benny and his wife, who are currently caring for their youngest son as well. Despite the challenges of raising two young children, Benny remains committed to Joshua’s recovery. He receives support from a group known as ‘Support Parents,’ who are dedicated volunteers involved in the BEAN Project. They generously devote their personal time to cooking and delivering nutritious meals to malnourished children in the community.

These volunteers, both men and women, prepare meals around lunchtime and deliver them directly to the homes of children enrolled in the rehabilitation program. Their selfless efforts have become a lifeline for families like Benny’s, who are doing their best with limited resources. 

Benny shared that Joshua is becoming more aware of the meals he is being fed and more selective. “His ultimate favorite is pumpkin mixed with milk and eggs. We now make sure to prepare this for him regularly to support his recovery,” Benny shares with a hopeful look “I am trying my best to feed him. I want Joshua to grow big and strong, and he must walk and live his life like a normal child. The project has supplied me with seedlings recently to support Joshua’s diet, and these seedlings are growing,” Benny added.

He also shared a touching change in Joshua’s behavior, “He now wakes up in the middle of the night to be fed, unlike before. I thank God for these changes I see in my son every day.

"We started the nutritional diet in March, and by the end of that month, I began seeing changes in my son; weight gain, movement in his arms and legs, and he started being responsive", Benny expressed.

Although Joshua has made significant progress, his journey is far from over.

A swelling behind his head and neck was recently identified by the Village Health Assistant, prompting his parents to seek further medical attention. 

According to the VHA, further scanning is needed to determine the root cause of the swelling. Benny, though concerned, remains determined to see his son through.

“I want my son to be normal like any other child. Even with limited resources, I continue to give him the attention he needs by making sure he eats the right meals on time, working closely with VHAs for regular home check-ups, and taking him to the hospital when needed, “Benny shares

“I have taken Joshua to the hospital, but I was told to wait for a doctor,” Benny added, highlighting the challenges many rural families face in accessing timely healthcare.

Joshua is one of many children benefiting from the BEAN Project, which supports children under five and their caregivers across eleven impact communities in the Balimo Delta-Fly District of Western Province, Papua New Guinea.

Funded by the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) through the Australian NGO Cooperation (ANCP), the project is implemented by World Vision Papua New Guinea to see children under five years continue to receive the right nutritional support at home to live their lives to the fullest.

This is made possible by working in close consultation with our key partners, community leaders, and village health assistant provides vital resources, training, and community support to help families combat malnutrition and improve child health. “Most mothers here did not complete formal education. Since the project was incepted, they were educated on the importance of providing a balanced diet for their children and their husbands were also invited to attend these workshops. As the project progresses, we were impressed to see most husbands turn up with their children for check-ups as their wives attended to other household duties”, Igiya Robin shares. 

The BEAN Project is the first of its kind in the Delta Fly District in Western Province of Papua New Guinea, which collectively involves both husbands and wives to combat malnutrition in their children with the support of the Gender Equality and Disability and Social Inclusion component. Communities were empowered on the importance of collaboration regardless of gender, disability, and status. 

Joshua’s story is one of resilience, love, and the power of community. With continued support, Benny hopes to see his son grow up healthy, strong, and full of life