Tumwesigye is a 57-year-old farmer from Uganda. He is married and has six children. He and his wife are both farmers, cultivating food both for home consumption and for sale. In 2016, Tumwesigye began to notice a swelling on his lower abdomen, however it initially did not cause him much discomfort. In May of this year, Tumwesigye began to experience great pain the area of his swelling and was eventually diagnosed with a right inguinal hernia. Local herbs and pain medication were of no avail; surgery was recommended in order to relieve Tumwesigye of his symptoms. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $249 to cover the cost of Tumwesigye's hernia repair surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on June 28 and, once completed, will hopefully allow Tumwesigye to live more comfortably. Following surgery, Tumwesigye hopes to continue working in his field and to be able to produce more yields. “After surgery my health will be free from disturbances," he says.

Horn is a 68-year-old farmer from Cambodia who is married with two sons, four daughters, and nine grandchildren. He enjoys reading books and newspapers, watching television, and listening to the news on the radio. About two months ago, Horn developed a cataract in each eye that cause blurred vision and tearing. It is difficult for Horn to see things clearly and to work. Horn learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), from his neighbor. He traveled for three hours with his wife to reach CSC for treatment. He is scheduled to undergo surgery on February 22. CSC is requesting $292 for the procedure. After a small-incision cataract surgery and intraocular lens implant in each eye, Horn will be able to see clearly again.

Eugene is a ten-month-old boy from the Philippines. An only child, he lives with his parents in a bamboo house. Weak and susceptible to illness, Eugene has been diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition. His mother is concerned for his health, but she looks forward to his recovery and hopes that her son will someday become a teacher. Our medical partner, International Care Ministries, is requesting $268 to cover the cost of an in-home feeding program to treat Eugene's malnutrition. This will pay for nutrient-enriched food packs, weekly visits from medical staff, and health education for family members. Eugene is scheduled to begin treatment on February 23.

Rose is a nine-month-old baby from the Philippines. She lives in a bamboo house with her parents, who work as laborers but have difficulty providing for the family. They obtain water from the water district and share electricity with their neighbor. Rose loves to play, but is very thin and has low energy. She has been diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition. Malnutrition threatens her growth and development and could even be fatal if not addressed. Fortunately, Rose will begin $268 malnutrition treatment on February 22. Rose 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. "I hope my daughter will grow healthy and finish her studies," says Rose's mother.