Monrovia, July 14 -- McArthur Davis was 18 when doctors told him to burn his clothes to cure what they thought was an infection. His vision was failing, sores covered his body, and though clinic after clinic had treated him, he never got better.

By Tetee Gebro with New Narratives

It wasn't until he reached the Ganta United Methodist Hospital in this dusty border town that a nurse gave him the diagnosis that would save his life: Davis had diabetes, a chronic health condition where the body cannot properly process sugar from food, leading to high blood sugar levels. With lifestyle changes and medication he has managed the disease. Nearly ten years later he is still grateful.

"If there was no means of getting to Ganta Methodist Hospita...