Nine-year-old Fonel was playing inside his family’s home where he had a painful accident. His family cooks over an open fire, as many families in his community do. While playing, Fonel pulled on a string and lost his balance, falling into a large pot of boiling spaghetti that was being prepared for the family. He suffered serious burns and needed ongoing medical care.

Fonel lives with his parents, four sisters, and two brothers. Sadly, one of his siblings has died. His father is a farmer who grows corn and beans to provide for the family. They live in a three-room home made of rocks and clay with a tin roof. The family has no running water or flush toilet, although they do have an outhouse. Their water source is a one-hour walk from their home.

When Fonel needed medical care, his family walked for three and a half hours to reach our clinic. Because his burns require daily dressing changes, Fonel is now staying at the clinic so he can receive the care he needs each day. With an average monthly family income of only about $60, the cost of ongoing medical treatment would be an enormous burden. Fonel’s family has already faced many challenges, but they made the long journey to find help.

Today, Fonel is receiving the daily wound care he needs as he continues his journey toward healing.

Two-and a half year old Tephaby was referred to our clinic after being sick for two weeks. His family traveled 5½ hours by motorcycle taxi and on foot to reach us. Weighing 28.pounds, Tephaby was suffering from severe acute malnutrition at -3 SD with 3+ edema from kwashiorkor. This was his second time battling the condition, and on the day he was admitted, he had not eaten anything. The day before, he had only managed some bean soup. Tephaby lives with his parents, five sisters, and three brothers. Tragically, one sibling died from kwashiorkor. His parents are farmers who grow corn and beans, earning only about $11.50 per month. The family lives in a two-room rock and tin home without running water or a toilet and walks one hour to collect water.

Tephaby was admitted to our Nutrition Center, where he began F-75 therapeutic milk before transitioning to Medika Mamba as his strength improved.

Kendy’s arrival into the world was unexpected and frightening. He was born prematurely, although his family is unsure how far along his mother was in her pregnancy.

Kendy’s young mother went to the baby’s father’s family when she began to feel unwell. She asked for a bucket to use as a bathroom, but instead, she unexpectedly gave birth to Kendy inside the bucket. When he was born, he was not breathing.

His grandmother immediately rushed him to a nearby clinic, where he received initial care before being transferred to our clinic in Cazale. When Kendy arrived, our medical team quickly placed him on oxygen and began monitoring him closely. Kendy is the first child of his young parents. His father works as a motorcycle driver, while his mother does not currently work. Because they are young, they are still living with their parents. The family traveled approximately two hours by motorcycle taxi to reach our clinic. For this tiny newborn, that journey was a desperate race for care. Today, Kendy remains under close observation as our team works to give him the best possible chance to grow stronger. His story reminds us how important access to emergency medical care can be, especially for fragile newborns who have nowhere else to turn.