Pauline is a 16-month-old baby from the Philippines. She lives in a bamboo house with her parents and siblings. With seven family members in one house, it is difficult for her parents to provide for the family.
Pauline has been diagnosed with moderately acute malnutrition. Malnutrition threatens Pauline’s growth and development and could even be fatal if not addressed. Fortunately, she will begin $184 malnutrition treatment on February 22.
Pauline 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.
Her mother says, “I hope someday my child will finish her studies and will be a successful doctor. I am excited for the malnutrition program of ICM.”
