Jojina, a single mother from Malawi, is 52 years old and has five children ranging in age from 15 to 29. They all live together in a two bedroom house, in addition to Jojina's mother, her uncle who is blind, and her four grandchildren. She earns a living by brewing and selling a local brew. Fifteen years ago, Jojina noted a small swelling on her neck that was not painful at the time. At first, she thought it would go away on its own, but it instead got bigger. She visited different herbalists to no avail. In 2022, she visited a nearby hospital, and was referred to the regional hospital, where after examinations, a diagnosis of goiter was made. She was sent home and asked to wait for her surgery date. Early this year, she started experiencing breathlessness and neck pain. She is presently unable to carry heavy items on her head and can no longer work as usual, which has significantly reduced her income. Jojina made a decision to visit our medical partner's care facility, Partners in Hope Medical Center (PIH), after hearing that other people with similar problems had been assisted at the center. Early this month, her diagnosis was confirmed at PIH and a surgical intervention called thyroidectomy was recommended. Jojina could however not afford the cost of treatment. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Jojina receive treatment. On April 9th, surgeons at PIH will perform a thyroidectomy to alleviate pain and discomfort, and allow Jojina to resume work and continue supporting her family. Now, Jojina needs help to fund this $1,015 procedure. Jojina says, “I am patiently waiting to be free from my symptoms, be able to work pain-free, and carry items on my head after surgery.”

Ramal is a 5-month-old baby from Kenya and the only child in his family. His parents separated before he was born. Ramal lives with his mother and great-grandparents. Ramal’s great-grandmother works jobs on people’s farms to earn a living, while his mother does laundry and also works casual jobs to provide for the family. Ramal’s family does not have NHIF coverage and needs assistance raising the required amount for Ramal’s hospital bills. Ramal was born two months early at seven months of pregnancy and was admitted to the nursery for two months. While in the nursery, the doctors noticed his head increasing in size, and upon close examination, he was diagnosed with hydrocephalus. When he was discharged, the doctors referred the family to another hospital in their home county for treatment. His mother gathered some funds and took him to the hospital, where he was booked for clinics and waited for surgery. This continued for a few months until a doctor referred them to our medical partner’s care center for treatment. Once arrived, an urgent shunt insertion surgery was scheduled. Ramal has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. As a result, Ramal has been experiencing an increasing head circumference. Without treatment, Ramal will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is requesting $720 to cover the cost of surgery for Ramal to treat his hydrocephalus. The procedure is scheduled to take place on November 15th and will drain the excess fluid from Ramal’s brain, thus reducing intracranial pressure and greatly improving his quality of life. With proper treatment, Ramal will develop into a strong, healthy young boy as he grows. Ramal’s mother said, “This condition is something that we have never seen before. This made us worried for Ramal’s health.”

Rehema is a 33-year-old farmer and mother from Uganda. She has two sons and a daughter. She comes from a family of six siblings. Two of her siblings and her father have passed away. Rehema practices small-scale farming with her husband, and in her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family. Rehema carried six previous pregnancies. One of her children died after birth due to birth asphyxia, and she also experienced two miscarriages. Rehema is expecting a new baby. Due to medical concerns, her doctors recommend that she deliver via a Caesarean section to ensure the safety of both mother and child. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Rehema undergo a C-Section on February 13th. This procedure will cost $234, and Rehema is requesting support. Rehema said, ‘I hope to get back to my fields after delivery.”