Claude is 6 years old and weighs 23 pounds. He was accompanied by both of his parents, visited the clinic after suffering from an illness for several months. He had been experiencing edema for the past two weeks, along with a fever and impaired vision. Vitamin A deficiency is suspected to be the cause of his eye problems. Claude lives with his parents and one surviving brother in a two-room house made of rocks and clay, covered with a tin roof. His parents’ income comes from farming, where they grow beans, corn, and grains, which they resell for a profit at open-air markets. They live without running water or a flush toilet, and even lack an outhouse. Water is obtained from a source that is a thirty-minute walk from their home. The family traveled for four hours to reach the clinic. Claude’s weight to height ratio is -3 standard deviations, indicating severe malnourishment, along with his kwashiorkor diagnosis. He was admitted for inpatient care and was given F-75 therapeutic milk before being switched to medika mamba.

Dasheline is 8 years old and weighs 33 pounds She was accompanied by her father, visited the clinic due to her sudden weight loss, leg and feet swelling, along with fever and stomach pain that persisted for three weeks. She resides with four family members in a one room home made of rocks and clay, and covered with a tin roof. Unfortunately, she has lost three siblings, and her mother passed away in April 2023. Her father is a farmer who cultivates beans, corn, and grains, which he subsequently sells in local open-air markets. Despite their resourcefulness, they lack basic amenities such as running water and a flush toilet. They use an outhouse and walk 90 minutes to collect water from a nearby source. Dasheline’s weight-to-height ratio is -2 standard deviations, and she is currently battling kwashiorkor, which indicates severe malnutrition. She was admitted to the clinic for inpatient care and was given F-75 therapeutic milk, followed by the medika mamba. The family traveled for four hours on foot, taxi, and motorcycle to reach the clinic.

Layidina is 18 months old and weighs 13 pounds. She was brought to our clinic by her grandmother who reported that she had been experiencing edema and a persistent cough. Her medical history revealed that she had been referred to us from a clinic located six hours away. Several months ago, her mother had left her with her grandmother and her father was currently hospitalized in the Dominican Republic after a car accident. Layidina lives with her grandmother in a modest three-room home that was built with rocks and clay and had a tin roof. Unfortunately, they did not have running water in their home, but had an outhouse. They had to walk for 60 minutes to collect water from a nearby source. Layidina was severely malnourished, with a weight-to-height standard deviation of -4 and diagnosed with kwashiorkor. Due to her condition, we admitted her for inpatient care.

Lovenaica is 6 years old and weighs 36 pounds. During her visit to the clinic, Lovenaica was accompanied by her grandmother and mother. She had been experiencing edema, fever, and diarrhea for several weeks. They live in a one-room cinder block house with five family members, including her brother and sister, mother, and grandmother. Unfortunately, her father recently suffered a broken leg and cannot work. Lovenaica’s mother runs a small business buying and reselling items in bulk, while the family grows watermelons to sell in their garden. Although they don’t have running water or a flush toilet, they do have an outhouse and obtain their water from a source a 15-minute walk from their home. The clinic is within a 10-minute walking distance from their residence. Lovenaica is severely malnourished, as evidenced by her being -2 standard deviations from the weight-to-height ratio and her kwashiorkor. She was admitted for inpatient care and began treatment with F-75 therapeutic milk before transitioning to medika mamba.

King Herby is 8 months old and weighs 12 pounds. He was brought to our clinic by his mother due to his severe symptoms of fever, diarrhea and coughing that had been occurring for two weeks. The young boy is also suffering from edema as a result of kwashiorkor. King Herby’s father was killed by gangs at the start of the year, and he has one living brother and no sisters. His mother is a bulk item reseller, and they all live in a two-room house with nine family members. Their home is made of rocks and clay and has a tin roof, but no running water or flush toilet (only an outhouse). The family has to walk about 20 minutes to obtain water from a nearby source, and they traveled to the clinic by motorcycle, which took approximately 30 minutes. King Herby’s  malnutrition is severe, with a -4 standard deviation and kwashiorkor. He was given the F-75 therapeutic milk and later transitioned to medika mamba.

Nini is 14 months old and weigh 12 pounds. She was brought to the clinic by her parents, both farmers, after experiencing a persistent fever, diarrhea, and cough for a month. The diagnosis revealed that Nini had edema from kwashiorkor, which is a nutrient deficiency. Nini is one of four sisters, as her brothers had passed away. Nini’s family lives in a four-room house made of rocks and clay, with a tin roof. However, they have no access to running water or a toilet, not even an outhouse. They must trek 30 minutes to the nearest water source and walked two hours to reach the clinic. Sadly, Nini’s malnutrition is severe, with a -4 standard deviation and kwashiorkor. She was given the F-75 therapeutic milk and later transitioned to medika mamba.