Showing all patients at Holy Family Virika Hospital

Nyiramukyo is a 66-year-old woman from Uganda. Nyiramukyo delivered all her eight children in her village without medical attention. After delivering her fourth child, her uterus came out. She was given herbal medicine, which she believes, pushed it back in its position. The same thing happened when she delivered her fifth child. However, nothing happened when she delivered the last three children. The uterus came out again four years ago. Nyiramukyo has been visiting basic health units and using herbs because of lack of money to go to a hospital. The medicine she has been receiving has not helped her at all. Now, the uterus is all out and it has ulcers. Nyiramukyo also has lower abdominal pain; cannot walk well; cannot dig; generally, she is unable to do any straining task because it makes the uterus protrude out more. If not treated, Nyiramukyo will get septic and she may pass away due to septicemia. Nyiramukyo was brought to Virika Hospital by a previous Watsi patient. Nyiramukyo is a widow and a mother of four living children; the other four children have passed on. She lives with her little grandchild and she doesn’t have any source of income. Kind people provide her with food and her grandchild cooks it for her. Nyiramukyo is in pain and worried about her condition. After surgery, she hopes to recover and resume digging to produce for herself and stop relying on other people. For $280, Nyiramukyo will undergo a transvaginal hysterectomy. Surgery will ensure that she has an improved quality of life, and she will be free from the pain and risk of septicemia. Nyiramukyo will be able to dig and provide for herself. “I am glad to hear that I can get help for my condition," she shared. "I have lived in pain and with a very uncomfortable condition."

Meet Nasazi, a 62-year-old married mother of six from Uganda. After several difficult pregnancies, Nasazi sought care for her pain and discomfort. She has been diagnosed with uterine prolapse - a condition where weakened muscles cannot hold the uterus in place. Nasazi is a peasant but currently she is unable to go to her gardens. This has caused food shortage to her family. Her husband is a peasant too but he is also sick, so he no longer digs. For $280, we can fund a prolapse repair surgery to narrow or close off the vagina from the uterus, providing more support to her uterus. If she's not treated, Nasazi may develop a blood infection or other complications. Nasazi shares, “After surgery I hope to resume digging. Current I have shortage of food because I stopped digging because of sickness.”

Kabugho is 40-years-old, married, and a mother of seven from Uganda. Both she and her husband are peasant farmers. She cultivates food for the family and her husband cultivates onions and potatoes for sale. He spends most of the money he earns on the education for six of his children in school, but it’s never enough because he always remains with debts at the end of the school term. This season he has not produced anything for sale because it all dried up due to the prolonged dry season. After delivering her sixth child, Kabugho started feeling lower abdominal pain. When she delivered her seventh child in February 2016, her condition worsened. Kabugho feels a lot of pain when passing urine and the pain increases when she laughs and when she is walking. She has a lot of discomfort and she doesn’t want to go in public. She visited a hospital where she was told she has a problem with her bladder, but the medicine given to her has not helped her at all. For $280, Kabugho will undergo uterine prolapse repair to strengthen the pelvic floor muscle. After surgery, she hopes to feel comfortable again and continue working hard to produce food her family. “I hope to feel comfortable again after surgery," shares Kabugho.

Kabonesa is a 52-year-old mother living in Uganda. She has seven children and independently provides for them by working as a casual laborer, often by gardening. According to our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), Kabonesa has uterine prolapse. This occurs when the muscles or ligaments supporting the uterus weaken and the uterus then slips out of its normal position. “Kabonesa presented with six years of on and off uterine prolapse that is associated with lower abdominal pain,” explains AMHF. If she is not treated, AMHF says that she is at high risk for infection. Due to lack of funds, Kabonesa was previously unable to seek medical help. Instead, she has been using herbal remedies to no avail. For $280, Kabonesa will receive five days of hospital care. While there, she will undergo surgery to repair her uterus, placing it back into its correct position. “After a uterine prolapse repair, Kabonesa will have an improved quality of life,” AMHF states. Kabonesa looks forward to regaining her her strength so that she can continue working to support her children. She shares, “I am sure with your help, I will be well again.”

“I'm glad there are people who can help me,” says Nyindombi, a 71-year-old woman from Uganda. Nyindombi is a patient with our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). She recently experienced uterine prolapse, and has ulcers due to friction between her uterus and thighs. “Nyindombi has delivered all of her nine children in the village without medical care,” explains AMHF. “A year after she delivered her last child, 25 years ago, she felt as if her uterus was not in its position. A few years after, she started feeling lower abdominal pain and headache.” “Early 2015 she notice her uterus was coming out but she didn’t have money to go for treatment,” continues AMHF. “She decided to live with the condition until at the beginning of 2016 when she was advised to go to AMHF to seek assistance.” If not treated, there is a significant risk that she develops a severe infection from the ulcers. $280 funds a treatment that will treat her condition, and prevent risk of severe infection. She will be able to walk well again. Let's help her get back on her feet!

"I wish I could get help and be well again!” shares Tumwesigye, a 65-year-old woman from Uganda. Tumwesigye was diagnosed with uterine prolapse, a condition that caused her uterus to drop out of her vagina. “It causes her back pain and she feels uncomfortable. If not treated, Tumwesigye may develop severe infection which could result in death,” explains our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). “When Tumwesigye delivered her first child, she felt her lower abdomen was not stable; it was as if it was suspending. She didn’t get the same feeling after delivering the children that followed. However, after delivering her last child about 20 years ago her lower abdomen felt strange again. After some years her uterus came out. Tumwesigye was given herbs that made it go back inside again. Three months ago the uterus came out again. She came to Virika hospital for help after being advised by her neighbor,” explains AMHF. $280 funds a treatment that will restore her uterus and no longer leave her at risk for severe infection. She will be able to go back to her work in the gardens. Tumwesigye is a widow with seven living children. Let's help her get back on her feet and fund this treatment!

More than five years ago, Kabacubya, a 58-year-old woman from Uganda, started experiencing difficulty passing urine. When she visited a hospital the first time, she was told that she might need surgery. However, Kabacubya could not go back to hospital because she could not afford the surgery. She feels weak and uncomfortable, and for quite some time now, Kabacubya has not been able to work in her gardens - which she fears might result into shortage of food in her home. She has been diagnosed with uterine prolapse. Kabacubya is a widow and a mother of five. Her husband passed away in 2001. At the time of her husband's passing, all her children were in school and she struggled to raise them. Kabacubya's last born is still in school. Kabacubya is worried about her condition, but she cannot afford treatment on top of paying school fees for her youngest and supporting her daughter who is deaf, educated, but cannot find a job. Improved quality of life is what we hope for Kabacubya after a uterine prolapse repair, which costs $280. She will be free from the risk of chronic urinary tract infection. "I will be very grateful if you help me have surgery," shares Kabacubya. After surgery, Kabacubya hopes to regain her strength and resume taking care of her fields so that she can get enough food for her family, and sell some to earn an extra income.

Kakuliremu is 72-years-old, a widow and mother of five children. She has no source of income and depends on her son who lives with her. Two years ago, Kakuliremu started feeling lower abdominal pain and noticed an unusual mass. She feels very uncomfortable and she has back pain as well. Kakuliremu is unable to walk long distances, or dig. She visited a hospital in the past where she was admitted and advised to have surgery, but she couldn’t afford to pay for it. She has been diagnosed with uterine prolapse. All of her children are subsistence farmers, and they cannot afford to pay for her treatment. Her son who brought her to hospital said, “If we had money, our mother wouldn’t have suffered for all this time. We see her in pain but our hands are tied; we have no money.” As she was leaving the hospital, a lady in the ward advised her to come to Virika Hospital for assistance, where she has been recommended to have a uterine prolapse repair surgery. For $280, Kakuliremu will undergo this surgery to ease her pain and discomfort. “The mass took away my peace and I am unable to do any work," shares Kakuliremu. After surgery she hopes to resume digging to produce food for herself.

Tumwesigye is 77 years old. She is a mother of seven children, four boys and three girls, all of whom are casual farmers. Tumwesigye lives with her youngest, a son, who provides her with all basic needs. Tumwesigye developed an uncomfortable gynecological condition about three years ago. She is unable to bend over or work. Tumwesigye's son took her to a clinic, where she was advised to go to a hospital for proper management. Knowing she could not afford hospital care, she resorted to using herbs, which didn’t improve her condition. Fortunately, she was referred to our medical partner's care center, Holy Family Virika Hospital, by a neighbor who is the mother of the gynecologist there. Tumwesigye will undergo gynecological surgery on April 18. She hopes to regain her strength and feel comfortable again. First, she needs help to raise $287. Let's help Tumwesigye get healthy!

Mutabazi is a 65-year-old banana farmer from Uganda. She's a widow and the mother of 11 children. For the last year, Mutabazi has been living with a cystocele, an uncomfortable gynecological condition. Mutabazi has been experiencing regular headaches, back pain, and frequent urinary tract infections. Over time, the pain has grown so severe that she hasn't been able to work on her banana farm, making it difficult to provide for her family. On May 16, Mutabazi will receive uterine prolapse repair surgery. Since Mutabazi can't afford to pay for the operation, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $287 to fund the treatment. Mutabazi's doctors expect that she will make a full recovery following the treatment. Mutabazi is also optimistic. "I hope to work again in my banana plantation after surgery," she says.

Kezabu is a 37-year-old woman from Uganda. She is a single mother with five children. Three years ago, while she was giving birth, she developed an uncomfortable condition in a sensitive area. She experiences urinary dysfunction and difficulty walking. This condition prevents her from working comfortably. Kezabu reported her condition to her local hospital several times, but she was only given medication for a urinary tract infection. Her symptoms did not go away. Eventually, she came to our medial partner's care center, Holy Family Virika Hospital, where she was diagnosed with a cystocele and advised to have surgery. On January 24, Kezabu will undergo a gynecological repair surgery. To provide for herself and her family, Kezabu cooks and sells snacks. Recently, however, she has been unable to work. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $287 to fund her surgery.

Nyirarwaza is a 65-year-old widow from Uganda. She delivered all her four children, three girls and one boy, from home. All the girls are married and her son, the youngest child, graduated from the Teacher Training College two months ago. Nyirarwaza has done manual work all her life. She produces her own food, but for the last two months she has not been able to do any work so she has to depend on her daughter in-law. Nyirarwaza’s uterus started showing signs of coming out in 2006, but she was unable to go to hospital because she didn’t have money. She started using herbs, which she thinks prevented her condition from worsening until three months ago, when the uterus came out. As a result of her condition, Nyirarwaza has a constant backache and swelling between her legs, making it difficult for her to live a happy life. For $287, Nyirarwaza will undergo a uterine prolapse repair surgery. After her surgery, she hopes to get well and resume working on her farm so that she can produce her own food without having to bother other people.