Like most of the children in her slum neighborhood in Haiti, the
climate doesn’t bother Jolene — but the lack of sanitation does.
Parasites entered through the soles of her feet. Worms living
inside her likely began to siphon nutrients from the meager food
she eats, and the pain it caused would send her screaming
through her home each night. Her family is poor, and her mom had
no money for doctor visits or medicines. For Jolene, the
treatment worked almost immediately. A worm five inches long was
expelled within minutes of her first dose. Her mother said it
was a “blessing.” She knew, without the help of World Concern
donors, her little Jolene might never have been released from
this suffering. It’s sickening. The squeamish among us would
rather not think about intestinal worms. But they are a reality
for millions of children in developing countries. Poor hygiene,
lack of clean water and sanitation – even bare feet – lead to
parasitic infection. The effects are debilitating: malnutrition,
pain, sickness, slee