Meet Stephen, a one-year-old boy from the Philippines. Stephen lives with his family in a house made of bamboo. His father drives motorcycles to earn a living. Stephen loves to play with his brother. Stephen has been diagnosed with moderately acute malnutrition. Malnutrition threatens Stephen’s growth and development and could even be fatal if not addressed. Fortunately, he will begin $184 malnutrition treatment on February 23. Stephen will be treated by International Care Ministries (ICM), a Watsi medical partner. One out of five children under five in ICM communities is either severely or moderately malnourished. Worldwide, poor nutrition is associated with nearly half of all deaths in young children. In remote communities and urban slums of the Philippines, the lack of clean water and unclean environments add risk to potentially fatal childhood diseases. ICM’s home-based feeding program provides nutrient-enriched food packs to ensure malnourished children get additional food to regain normal weight and achieve optimum physical and mental development. After identifying a child as malnourished, staff and community volunteers make weekly visits to monitor this child’s progress. To help sustain the health of the child, ICM’s professional staff educate the mother, guardian, or other family members about proper nutrition, sanitation, hygiene, and organic vegetable gardening. His mother says, "I hope that my child will become healthy."

Jomar is a two-year-old boy from the Philippines. Unfortunately, he has been diagnosed with malnutrition. He will be receiving treatment through our medical partner's home-based malnutrition intervention program. This program provides nutrient-enriched food packs to ensure he gets the additional food he needs to regain normal weight and achieve optimum physical and mental development. Volunteers will monitor his progress, and professional staff will educate his parents about proper nutrition, sanitation, hygiene, and organic vegetable gardening. The treatment will begin on February 22 and costs $184. His mother looks forward to her son growing big and healthy. She says, "I hope that Jomar will finish his studies and become a member of the army or whatever he wants when he grow up. We will support him."