Success! Sofiti from Malawi raised $733 to fund prostate surgery.

100%

$733 raised, $0 to go

$733

raised

to go

Sofiti's story
Sofiti's update

February 14, 2017

86-year-old Sofiti lives in Malawi with his wife. Together, they have five children and ten grandchildren. Their children manage the day-to-day responsibilities of their farm. Sofiti handles the simpler tasks and plays with his grandchildren.

For the past two years, Sofiti has experienced urinary dysfunction. This has left him feeling weak and unable to work as he once did. He has been diagnosed with an enlarged prostate gland.

With the help of our medical partner, World Altering Medicine, Sofiti is scheduled for surgery on February 15 to correct his condition. Watsi is asking for $733 to fund the procedure. Your donation will help pay for the surgeon’s fees, the anesthesiologist, theater time, medication, and 17 nights stay in the hospital. Once this procedure is done, Sofiti can go back to living a normal, healthy life.

86-year-old Sofiti lives in Malawi with his wife. Together, they have five children and ten grandchildren. Their children manage the day-to-...

Photo of Sofiti post-operation

March 24, 2017

Sofiti underwent successful prostate surgery.

Sofiti feels much better since his surgery. His family is thrilled by the outcome of his surgery.

He says, “I am hopeful I can now do my work normally. I am thankful for the help from Watsi.”

Sofiti feels much better since his surgery. His family is thrilled by the outcome of his surgery. He says, "I am hopeful I can now do my ...

February 14, 2017
PROFILE SUBMITTED
Sofiti was submitted by Alison Corbit, Project Coordinator at World Altering Medicine.
February 15, 2017
TREATMENT OCCURRED
Sofiti received treatment at Nkhoma Hospital in Malawi. Medical partners often provide care to patients accepted by Watsi before those patients are fully funded, operating under the guarantee that the cost of care will be paid for by donors.
February 16, 2017
PROFILE PUBLISHED
Sofiti's profile was published to start raising funds.
March 24, 2017
TREATMENT UPDATE
Sofiti's treatment was successful. Read the update.
June 18, 2017
FULLY FUNDED
Sofiti's treatment was fully funded.

Funded by 14 donors

Treatment

Colon / Prostate Resection

Cost Breakdown
Diagnosis
Procedure

On average, it costs $733 for Sofiti's treatment

Hospital Fees

$480

Medical Staff

$12

Medication

$231

Supplies

Travel

Labs

Symptoms
Impact on patient's life
Cultural or regional significance

What kinds of symptoms do patients experience before receiving treatment?

The primary condition treated with this surgery is benign overgrowth of the prostate, called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Patients generally present with urinary symptoms, including difficulty or inability to pass urine, urination frequency, passing very small amounts of urine, or passing urine very slowly. Some patients experience pain when trying to pass urine.

What is the impact on patients’ lives of living with these conditions?

Most Malawians live in rural areas, and a large percentage of them work as farmers. This is also true of our medical partner's patient population. When men are experiencing symptoms related to BPH, they often have a hard time working on their farms. They are therefore unable to support themselves and their families. Before receiving surgery, many men will have a catheter placed, which can be uncomfortable and embarrassing. Additionally, using a catheter for a prolonged period of time can lead to infection or trauma to the area.

What cultural or regional factors affect the treatment of these conditions?

Although experiencing symptoms associated with BPH is not commonly viewed as taboo within our medical partner's patient population, it is rarely discussed. Men can feel embarrassment about the condition and the impact it has on their lives. Some men experience psychological effects from the condition.

Process
Impact on patient's life
Risks and side-effects
Accessibility
Alternatives

What does the treatment process look like?

The standard treatment is a prostate resection, which is a fairly standard procedure. After the surgery, the patient will use a catheter for 14 days. Once the catheter is removed and the patient can pass urine freely, they can be discharged.

What is the impact of this treatment on the patient’s life?

If the treatment goes smoothly, it is expected that healthy patients will make a full recovery and not relapse.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

Although there are risks associated with any surgical procedure, the risks associated with a prostate resection are very low. However, as the patient population tends to be of older age, it is common that patients have other underlying conditions, such as high blood pressure. Patients who are candidates for this surgery are screened and monitored carefully. If a patient is found to have another health condition that could jeopardize their health during or after the surgery, that condition is addressed first.

How accessible is treatment in the area? What is the typical journey like for a patient to receive care?

In the area of our medical partner's treatment center, there is one central, public hospital. That hospital provides surgical services, but barriers exist. A patient requiring a hernia repair could be on a waitlist for years at the central hospital, or be sent home and told to return a number of times. For this reason, treatment can be very difficult to obtain at the public hospital. In addition to our medical partner's treatment center and the central hospital, there are private clinics that would provide this service, but at a high fee. Our medical partner's treatment center, Nkhoma, is a great option for patients because they are able to receive quality treatment.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

Drugs can be used to relieve symptoms for a short period of time, but ultimately, surgery is the only treatment.

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.

Ireen is a 24-year-old single mother from Malawi. To support her family, Ireen grows maize. While fetching firewood, Ireen fell and fractured her elbow. Because of the pain, she is unable to perform daily tasks and work on the farm. If left untreated, it may result in the non-union of the fractured bone. She is scheduled for surgery on March 12th and our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $525 for her surgery and care. Treatment will relieve Ireen of the pain and help her resume working on her farm again. Ireen says, “I hope to receive treatment so that I can take care of my child.”

Anitah is sociable woman from Uganda. She is a mother to three children - all her children are in school, the eldest in primary school class three and the youngest attending baby class. Her parents are farmers, and she is the fifth child in a family of eight, with six brothers and one sister, all of whom are married and engaged in farming too. At university, Anitah pursued a diploma in crafts and digital design. However, despite her qualifications, she struggled to secure employment in her field and now focuses on homemaking duties such as cooking, cleaning, and caring for her children. Her husband is a businessman specializing in roadside meat roasting. They reside in a three-room semi-permanent house constructed with mud and reeds in the Kasozi Rwempisyi trading center. During her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family. She is currently expecting her fourth child. Her doctors recommend that she deliver via a caesarean section because of her higher risk pregnany. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Anitah undergo a C-Section on February 16th. This procedure will cost $252, and Anitah needs your support. Anitah says, “I am hopeful that if I get support, I will be able to deliver well, have a live baby and continue hustling, looking for jobs to sustain my family.”

Seng Hour is a 16-year-old student who resides in Pursat province with his parents and two younger sisters. His father is a teacher, his mother is a rice farmer, and his sisters are students at the local school. Seng Hour is in grade 10 and enjoys chemistry; he would like to become a teacher. At home, he enjoys his mother's fried beef and vegetables and playing volleyball with friends. In August 2023, Seng Hour was in a motorbike accident and fell onto his right side. His family sought treatment from a local clinic, but his right arm and hand remain paralyzed, and he cannot use them. He has been diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury on his right side. The brachial plexus is a nerve network that transmits signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand, and injuries to this nerve network can result in loss of function and sensation. Because Seng Hour is unable to use his hand, he has stopped attending school. Seng Hour traveled to Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre to receive treatment, the only center in the country where the treatment he needs is available. On January 9th, he will undergo a brachial plexus repair surgery with the goal of regaining some function in his arm. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $709 to fund this procedure. Seng Hour said: "I hope the doctors can fix my arm so I can go to school and get a job to help my family."

Sofiti's Timeline

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Funded by 14 donors

Treatment

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.