Racheal is a small-scale farmer from Uganda. She studied up to secondary school in class two before dropping out due to financial constraints. Her husband is also a farmer, and they have two children. Racheal's eldest child is three and a half years old and in nursery school and her second child is two years old. They stay in a four-room mud house and work hard to make ends meet for their family. During her free time, she enjoys working on her small farm. Racheal is currently expecting her third child. She received antenatal care at Maziba Health Centre IV and reported to Rushoroza Hospital on 17th January. Her doctors recommend that she deliver via a caesarean section because her pregnancy is high risk and this way, doctors can ensure the safety of both mother and child. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Racheal undergo a C-Section on January 19th. This procedure will cost $214, and Racheal needs your support. Rachael says, “I am praying for a successful surgery with a positive outcome and hope to be back to my farming and life as I recover."

Kenneth is a 63-year-old small-scale farmer from Malawi, married with four children aged between 18 and 35 years. All his three children have moved out of home except the last born child, who currently in secondary school and stays with an aunt in Blantyre. Kenneth practices small-scale farming together with his wife. He enjoys a meal of nsima served with local chicken and vegetables. One year ago, Kenneth started experiencing on-and-off swelling in a sensitive area. He visited two different hospitals and received the same diagnosis of right inguinal hernia. His surgery, which was originally planned for March of this year, was postponed because of high blood pressure. Currently, he is having frequent episodes of swelling and pain, and he is mostly confined to lying down as he is unable to engage in other activities. This has affected his role as a provider for his family. Kenneth's brother advised him to seek help at our medical partner's care facility, Partners in Hope Medical Center. Kenneth traveled over 300km from Blantyre to the facility in Lilongwe, and his brother's wife accompanied him to hospital. Surgery was recommended to treat his condition, but Kenneth is unable to raise the full amount needed. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Kenneth receive treatment. On April 24th, surgeons at PIH will perform a hernia repair surgery to treat his condition, ease his pain and help him live more comfortably. Now, Kenneth needs help to fund this $575 procedure. Kenneth says, “I cannot wait to receive treatment, I wish to no longer have to lay down because of my condition.”

Mpapa is a 61-year-old man from a village in Malawi. He has four married children and lives with his wife and grandchildren. When he was young, Mpapa needed to stop attending primary school making it hard for him to secure a job. He depends on farming where he grows maize and groundnuts for his family and for commercial purposes to support their day-to-day costs. Mpapa was diagnosed with an enlarged prostate and scheduled for surgery with our medical partner at Nkhoma Hospital. However, he cannot afford the entire cost of the surgery. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $530 to fund the balance payment for his surgery. Mpapa says, “I hope to receive treatment and resume life without this condition.”