Success! Innocent from Uganda raised $375 for life-saving malnutrition treatment.

100%

$375 raised, $0 to go

$375

raised

to go

Innocent's story
Innocent's update

March 31, 2016

This is Innocent. He is four years old, and lives with his father and two siblings in Uganda.

Innocent is malnourished. Our medical partner, The Kellermann Foundation, explains, “Innocent was referred to the hospital by a community health nurse because of his malnutrition. He is lethargic, has edema and diarrhea.”

Innocent’s father, Joseph, is a widower, and struggles to raise his three children on his own. He works as a farm laborer, and was initially reluctant to bring Innocent to the hospital for fear of the cost of treatment.

Luckily, we can help. For $375, Innocent will receive treatment to restore his good health. He will be able to maintain his health in the future if he is able to receive nutritious food.

The Kellermann Foundation told us that Joseph was greatly relieved when he found out about Watsi, and it gave him the motivation to bring Innocent in for treatment. Joseph shared, “I would like to thank everyone for supporting health care for my children. It is a great blessing.”

This is Innocent. He is four years old, and lives with his father and two siblings in Uganda. Innocent is malnourished. Our medical partn...

Photo of Innocent post-operation

May 16, 2016

Innocent received life-saving malnutrition treatment.

“I was very worried about the costs of the treatment for my child so I hesitated to bring him to the hospital,” shared Ivan’s father. “Now I feel so much better knowing that he is healthy. And, I learned how to make healthy food at home. Thank you so much.”

Our medical partner, The Kellermann Foundation, explains: “Ivan’s father is a single dad, so was struggling to know how to provide good meals for his children. The hospital helped him understand nutrition and now that Ivan is going home, he will continue to improve. Ivan also went home with extra plumpy’Nut (nutrient supplements) and is back to playing and having fun. He will be ready for school next year.”

"I was very worried about the costs of the treatment for my child so I hesitated to bring him to the hospital," shared Ivan's father. "Now I...

March 31, 2016
PROFILE SUBMITTED
Innocent was submitted by Sheila Hosner at The Kellermann Foundation.
March 31, 2016
TREATMENT OCCURRED
Innocent received treatment at Bwindi Community Hospital in Uganda. Medical partners often provide care to patients accepted by Watsi before those patients are fully funded, operating under the guarantee that the cost of care will be paid for by donors.
April 11, 2016
PROFILE PUBLISHED
Innocent's profile was published to start raising funds.
April 14, 2016
FULLY FUNDED
Innocent's treatment was fully funded.
May 16, 2016
TREATMENT UPDATE
Innocent's treatment was successful. Read the update.

Funded by 7 donors

Treatment

Ped. Malnutrition

Diagnosis
Procedure

Symptoms
Impact on patient's life
Cultural or regional significance

What kinds of symptoms do patients experience before receiving treatment?

At our medical partner's care center, Bwindi Community Hospital, two types of malnutrition are treated on an in-patient basis: moderate acute malnutrition and severe acute malnutrition. Moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) is also called “wasting” and is characterized by low weight-for-height indicators or by low mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) indicators. Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is the most dangerous type of malnutrition. It is caused by extreme deprivation of vital nutrients and becomes life-threatening because of its alterations of important functions of the body. SAM can manifest in two ways: severe wasting and oedema. Severe wasting is caused by extreme nutrient and calorie deficiency. Its symptoms include a massive loss of body fat and muscle tissue. This results in “baggy pants syndrome," in which the skin is loose while the body is extremely thin. Malnutrition of this type is also called marasmus. Oedema is caused primarily by the deficiency of protein in the diet. The body's extremities become extremely swollen. The oedema then progresses to the face and other areas of the body. Other symptoms include skin lesions, an enlarged liver, and changes in hair color. Malnutrition of this type is also called kwashiorkor. Kwashiorkor is the most common type of malnutrition treated at Bwindi Community Hospital.

What is the impact on patients’ lives of living with these conditions?

If not treated, moderate acute malnutrition can quickly progress to severe acute malnutrition. Chronic malnutrition can cause long-term growth and development issues, such as stunting and reduced cognitive capacity. Untreated, severe acute malnutrition can result in death.

What cultural or regional factors affect the treatment of these conditions?

There are many underlying causes of acute malnutrition in sub-Saharan Africa, including poverty, family size, lack of nutritional knowledge, mental health issues in caregivers, disease, war, social problems, and lack of clean water. Treatment is necessary to prevent malnutrition from becoming chronic and having a long-term impact on a child's development.

Process
Impact on patient's life
Risks and side-effects
Accessibility
Alternatives

What does the treatment process look like?

Bwindi Community Hospital has a robust program for the treatment and prevention of malnutrition. Combining multifaceted community education, the assessment of nutritional status of children, and treatment of acute malnutrition, its goal is to prevent all forms of malnutrition. Hospital in-patient treatment, supported by Watsi, is reserved for the most acute cases. Every three months, the hospital’s Community Health Nursing Team (CHT) works with Village Health Teams (VHTs) to assess the nutritional status of all of the approximate 10,000 under-five children in its catchment area. Milder cases of malnutrition, which are the majority, are referred to district health centers for management. Early case-finding and treatment prevents progression to life-threatening, expensive, and complicated malnutrition. In addition, the CHT and VHTs conduct health education classes for the community. Subjects covered include family planning, sanitation and hygiene, maternal health, and prevention of illness. All of these issues are related to malnutrition. Once admitted to the hospital, a child is given a series of milk formulas. These formulas are calibrated to carefully increase nutrient and protein intake. After the formula phase, the child transitions to “Ready to Use Therapeutic Food” (RUTF). At Bwindi Community Hospital, the RUTF is a peanut butter-based food called plumpyNut™. It is nutrient-rich and packed with a high concentration of protein and energy. Supplements, such as Vitamin A and folic acid, are given. Antibiotics are given, if needed, to treat concurrent infections. After transitioning to the RUTF, the child is given an appetite test. If he or she eats well, the child is discharged and returns home with a supply of plumpyNut™ to supplement local foods. While the child is in the hospital, his or her caregiver receives health and nutritional education, including cooking classes, to help prevent recurrence of malnutrition. Food from a demonstration nutritional garden is used in the cooking classes and provided free to patients. When discharged, the child is referred to a local health facility and community nurse for follow-up. The child continues receiving treatment and supplemental food until his or her goal weight is reached.

What is the impact of this treatment on the patient’s life?

If the correct treatment is started promptly, a patient’s life can be saved. Any long-term impacts, such as stunting or cognitive development issues, can be mitigated or prevented. The child’s development is put back on track.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

There are no side effects or risks with this treatment.

How accessible is treatment in the area? What is the typical journey like for a patient to receive care?

Care for malnutrition without severe complications is available in district health centers, which is where most children are treated. When complications arise, adequate treatment is only available in hospitals. Patients are usually referred to the hospital by a community health team. They generally travel from 20 to 50 kilometers away and arrive by either walking or traveling on a hired motorcycle.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

There are no alternative medications to treat acute, complicated malnutrition. Alternative hospitals are more than two-hour drive away.

Meet another patient you can support

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Choronai is a seven-year-old girl from Cambodia. She lives with her parents, her grandmother, and two older siblings. Choronai's father is a construction worker, while her mother works as a garbage collector. Her grandmother stays home and take care of her grandchildren. When Choronai grows up, she wants to work in a hair salon. At home, she loves to read and enjoys her grandmother's lemongrass soup. Four years ago, Choronai started to experience difficulty swallowing, along with recurrent sore throat and fever. Frequent illness caused her to miss school. Choronai was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils and adenoids, which, if not treated, will cause her symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, will perform a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy for Choronai, which is scheduled to take place on May 1st. This should relieve Choronai of her symptoms and help her live much more comfortably. Choronai and her family are able to contribute $75 but need your help to raise $190 more to fund this procedure. After surgery, she hopes she will be able to eat more comfortably and get better sleep.

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Khemarin is a 32-year-old tuk-tuk taxi driver from Cambodia. He lives with his wife, two children, sister, and his parents. Khemarin's wife manages the household and helps his mother sell groceries out of their home, while his father is retired. During his free time, Khemarin likes to play soccer and cultivate vegetables in his backyard. In March 2024, Khemarin's tricycle collided with a car. His tuk-tuk was badly damaged and he dislocated his left elbow when he fell on the concrete. He could not afford the cost of a local clinic and sought the help of a Khmer traditional healer. However, in the past month, his elbow has become more deformed. Khemarin cannot flex his arm due to the constant pain. He has impaired movement and tingling in his left fifth finger, which may be an indication of nerve damage. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On May 7th, Khemarin will undergo a fracture repair procedure for his dislocated elbow, return the sensation to his finger, and improve his range of motion. Khemarin and his family are able to contribute $87.50 but need your help to raise $396 more to fund the procedure. Khemarin said, "I want my arm to get better quickly so I can drive my tuk-tuk soon and support my family.:

Innocent's Timeline

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Funded by 7 donors

Treatment

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.