FRITZNER and MONCLET

Fritzner (above) is almost 3 years old and weighs 18 pounds 4 ounces. Monclet (below) is around 4 years old and weighs 16 pounds 4 ounces.  They are brothers and were both admitted into our inpatient program at the same time with severe malnutrition. The family was referred to us from Children’s Lifeline.  Their parents are both farmers and grow beans, corn and pumpkins in their gardens.  They do not have running water at their home or a flush toilet not even an outhouse. The nearest water source is a 30 minute walk from their home.  The families average monthly income is around $31US.  They traveled 6 hours by motorcycle and taxi to arrive at the clinic. They were both started on the F-75 therapeutic milk and then graduated to the medika mamba program.

JOCELIN

He is 3 1/2 years old and weighs 24 pounds.  He has 2 living siblings and 1 that died from cholera. His parents are both farmers and grow beans, corn and pumpkins in their gardens.  The family lives in a 2 room home made of tin, rocks and clay.  They do not have running water at their home or a flush toilet not even an outhouse. The nearest water source is about a 10 minute walk from their home.  The day Jocelin was admitted he has spaghetti to eat and the day before a plate of rice.  Besides his kwashiorkor he also has a fever, diarrhea and refused to eat any medika mamba.   The family traveled 6 hours by motorcycle to arrive at the clinic.  This is his 3rd time with kwashiorkor.  He was admitted to the inpatient program and was started on the F-75 therapeutic milk and then transfer to the medika mamba program.

 JUNIOR

He is 16 months old and weighs 14 pounds. He was referred to us from Children Health Initiative .  Besides being in the -4 stage of malnutrition he also was admitted with a 105.6 temp, diar an dehydration.  During some routine testing he tested positive for Syphilis as well.  He is one sick little guy.  The day he was admitted he has a bowl of soup and the day before some stew.  He is the only child of his mama and papa.  His mama buys items in bulk and resells them in smaller quantities for a profit.  His mama lives at her mama’s home with her family as they do not have a home yet.  There are 7 other people living in the one room home.  The do not have running water at their home or a flush toilet but do have an outhouse.  The traveled about 1.5 hours by taxi and motorcycle to arrive at the clinic.  He was started on the F-75 therauptic milk and then graduated to the medika mamba program.  Was also treated for syphilis.

 LORIE 

She is 4 1/2 years old and weighed 25 pounds when she was admitted to the inpatient program.  She was in our outpatient program for a few weeks but began developing more severe signs of kwashiorkor.  She has since lost 4 pounds of “water weight” from her edema.  Her parents are farmers and grow beans, corn and pumpkins in their gardens.  The family lives in a 2 room home made of rocks, tin and clay.  They do not have running water at their home or a flush toilet not even and outhouse.  At her home they have one meal a day that is mostly rice.  The families average monthly income is around $80US.  When we asked the mama why she thought her child was malnourished she said there was not enough food to feed everyone in the house. She continued on the medika mamba program and is recovering well now.

NABENSON

He is 2 years old and weighs 18 pounds.  He was referred to us from Children Health Ministries.  He was in their outpatient program and became increasing worse so was admitted to our inpatient program.  He has 5 living siblings and 1 that died when it was a small baby.  His mama works at someone’s house cleaning and cooking for them.  They rent a 1 room home where they all stay together.  They do not have running water at their home or a flush toilet but do have an out house.  He was admitted with a 103 temp and a glucose level of 40.  The day he was admitted he had not had anything to eat and the day before some soup.  He was started on the F-75 therauptic milk and then graduated to the medika mamba program.

RICARDO

He is 8 months old and weighs 8 pounds.  He was referred to us from Children Health Ministries.  He was admitted with -4 stage malnutrition and a temp of 102.  He has 4 living siblings and 2 that have died of fevers.  His mama tells us that he has been sick and losing weight for about 2 months now.  His parent have gardens where they grow beans, corn and grains.  They do not have running water at their home or a flush toilet but do have an outhouse. They purchase their water from vendors that are a few minutes away from their home. The family of 7 lives in a 1 room home made of sticks, mud and tin.  They traveled about 4 hours by motorcycle, taxi and foot to arrive at the clinic.  He was started on the medika mamba program and is recovering.