Story of Malnutrition in the Congo by Dr. Lindsey Cooper CHSC Pediatrician in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Chaligonza was another patient was close to death. When he arrived at the hospital, his skin was peeling off and his tiny body was swollen. I was shocked to learn that he was four years old. This was his second hospitalization for recurrent pneumonia. As it turns out, Chaligonza had tuberculosis. Once we started treatment for tuberculosis his appearance and personality underwent a radical transformation. His skin started to look normal again and the swelling disappeared. His eyes were bright and he started talking, laughing, and giving high-5s. He could be seen walking and playing with his friends. The week before his discharge I said, “I declare you the chief of the Pediatric Ward. We will miss you so much when you leave. You can come back to check on us every week.” For all the suffering that we see, we do experience the joy of seeing patients like Chaligonza get better and go home. These two children are examples of the kinds of illnesses I see daily. I oversee the pediatrics service here at Nyankunde

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