Beatrice is 20 months old and was referred to us by Children’s Health Ministries for severe malnutrition. She was admitted to ICU after she was brought in to the clinic by her Step grandmother after she was abandoned by her parents. The step grandmother took her to CHM due to her having diarrhea and a poor appetite. Beatrice had a mild fever and some difficulty breathing due to an upper repertory infection.  The grandmother buys and sells goods to provide and source of income.  They live in a two-room house made of clay, rocks and tin and have a small outhouse. Their only source of water is a river they must walk to and fetch water from. They traveled 3 ½ hours by tap-tap and moto to be seen at the clinic.  Beatrice weighed 15.1 pounds when she was admitted.

Djennie is 23 months old. She lives with her maternal aunt and little sister after her mother died from a fever about 2 months prior. The father is not involved in her live.   They live in a two-room house made of block and tin. They have a small outhouse.  They walk about ten minutes each way to the only water source and must carry the water back. Her Aunt traveled an hour by moto and tap-tap for an hour to bring her in to the clinic because she was concerned when she began to lose weight about 1 month ago. Her aunt said she was walking before she became ill, but hasn’t walked since. She is able to talk. When She was admitted she had a fever and did not have a good appetite. Djennis’ Aunt says her diet consist mainly of bean sauce and that she wont eat anything else.  Djennie weighed 21 pounds when she was admitted to the clinic and was swollen from kwashiorkor.

Loudmayson is 18 months old. He lives with both of his parents and one sibling in a one-room house made of plywood and tin. They have a small outhouse. They walk 15 minutes one way to get water. Their diet consists mostly of rice and legume (cooked vegetable mush). His father is a mason and has a second job as a driver to provide a source of income. His mother stays home to care for the children and tend the garden. They grow carrots, beets and onions to provide food for their family. They traveled an hour by moto and tap-tap for an hour to bring him to the clinic. Loudmayson weighed 12.9 pounds when he was admitted to the center.

Samuel will be 4 years old in October. He was brought into the clinic with first and second degree burns on about 40% of his body from where he fell into boiling water while his Aunt was cooking outside. Samuel was well nourished when he came into the clinic. His mother was at the market selling goods when the accident happened and came to the clinic as soon as she heard. Samuel lives with his mother in a two-room house made of tin and sticks. His father is not involved in his life and does not help to provide for him. Samuels mother has chosen to remain at the center with her son to help care for him.

Rebeca is 18 months old. She lives with her mother and five siblings in a two-room house made of rocks, clay and tin. They do not have a bathroom or outhouse. Their only water source is a river 30 minutes away and they must walk to get water. Their diet consists mostly of rice and legume (cooked vegetable mush). Her father is deceased and her mother buys and sells goods at the market to provide income for the family home. Rebeca’s’ mother traveled three hours by moto and tap-tap to bring her to the clinic. Rebeca weighed 18.4 pounds and was swollen from kwashiorkor when she was admitted to the center.

Monkerline is 34 months old. She lives with both her parents and one sibling in a one-room house they rent. They do not have a bathroom or outhouse. Their must buy their water from a truck that drives through and sells to those who are too far from any water sources. Their diet consists mostly of rice. Her father sells lottery tickets to provide income for the family home and her mother stays home to care for the children. monkerline’s mother traveled for an hour by moto to bring her to the clinic. Monkerline weighed 16.7 pounds when she was admitted to the center.

Antony is 8 years old. He lives with both of his parents and two siblings in a three-room house made of rocks, clay and tin. They don’t have a bathroom or outhouse. They walk 15 minutes one way to get water. Their diet consists mostly of rice and bean sauce but they also eat cracked corn, pumpkins and avocado’s. His father is a farmer and raises beans, corn and pumpkins. His mother buys and sells at market for an income. They traveled two hours by moto and walked for an hour to bring him to the clinic. Antony weighed 27.2 pounds when he was admitted to the center.

Kelson is 3 ½ years old. He lives with both of his parents and two siblings in a three-room house made of rocks, clay and tin. They don’t have a bathroom or outhouse. They walk 15 minutes one way to get water. Their diet consists mostly of rice and bean sauce but they also eat cracked corn, pumpkins and avocado’s when they can. His father is a farmer and raises beans to provide food and an income for the family. His mother buys and sells at market to help support her family. They traveled six hours by foot to bring him to the clinic. Kelson is blind from severe malnutrition. Kelson weighed 23.7 pounds and was swollen from kwashiorkor when he was admitted to the center.