Two-year-old Julian is from the Philippines. He lives with his parents and seven other siblings in a small house made of bamboo. Julian loves to play local games with children in his neighborhood. Julian's father, Gaudencio, is a laborer. He has difficulty supporting the family. Julian, who has a thin body and a bloated stomach, has been diagnosed with moderately acute malnutrition. Fortunately, Julian began $184 malnutrition treatment on October 17, 2016. Julian is being 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 acutely 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.

Roldan lives with his parents and brothers in the Philippines. Though he was unable to attend school, he is a very industrious worker. He earns money by farming. Roldan received a cleft lip surgery on October 17, 2016. Before the operation, Roldan expressed hope that it would change his life. With new self-confidence, he plans to go to school or look for a good job. He dreams of starting a family of his own. However, Roldan does not have enough to pay for the $1,246 surgery. He needs help to cover the cost of this life-changing treatment. "This will be a great opportunity for me to change my life," says Roldan. "Thank you for giving me another chance."

Agaton is a 62-year-old corn and sugar cane farmer from the Central Region of Malawi. Agaton enjoys an active lifestyle of bicycling, working the maize mill, spending time with his sister and brother-in-law, and chatting with village friends. He came to our medical partner's hospital, Nkhoma District Hospital, due to an onset of urinary pain symptoms. Agaton was diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia, a condition involving prostate enlargement. Without treatment, Agaton's quality of life would decline, and he would be unable to support his family. Fortunately, on October 20, 2016, Agaton received surgery to treat this condition. Now, Agaton's family needs help to pay the $726 cost of the surgery. Agaton is "thankful to Watsi for helping with treatment."

“I hope to get help so I can go back to cultivating my banana plantation," shares 94-year-old Munubi. Munubi lives in Uganda with his grandaughter. He spent two years with his first wife who died and left him with one son, who later died too. He married his second wife; they lived together for 35 years, and she too died but without bearing a child. Munubi has a small banana plantation which is now in bad shape because he is unable to care for it due to pain and old age. Munubi developed swellings in his inguinal region two years ago. He feels pain whenever he walks long distances and when he sits for a long time. At night, he doesn’t sleep well because he feels as if his intestines are turning around. He had never reported his condition to a hospital, because of lack of money. He has been using herbs, thinking he would get relief, but that did not work. Munubi came to Watsi's medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF) after learning that there is help for people in need of surgery. He has been diagnosed with acquired bilateral hydrocele & a left inguinal hernia. He has no money to pay for his treatment. $249 will cover Munubi's medical expenses and stay at the hospital. After surgery, Munubi hopes to get well and rehabilitate his banana plantation.

“My only wish is to get well, and be free from the pain,'' shares Lucy. Lucy is a 50-year-old woman from Kenya, where she lives with her husband. According to our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), she works as an early childhood development teacher, while her husband does construction. In December 2015, Lucy was diagnosed with uterine fibroids, non-cancerous growths on the walls of the uterus. AMHF tells us, “Lucy experiences lower abdominal pain. Due to the persistent pain, she is not able to attend to her work consistently.” Without treatment, Lucy risks developing anemia, due to the constant bleeding caused by the fibroids, in addition to worsening pain. Lucy requires a hysterectomy, a surgical removal of the uterus. The procedure will cost $800, which covers all surgical and medical expenses, pain management, four days to in the hospital, and meals during her stay. Lucy is contributing an additional $52 for her treatment. This procedure is effective in eliminating fibroids and preventing recurrence. After surgery, Lucy will be free from pain, and will be able to return to her job.