Ten-month old Gerald lives with his parents and six older brothers and sisters in Uganda. He is a very lively baby, and is starting to learn to walk. His family loves to play ball with him, and listen to him try to speak words like “Mama” and “Papa”.
For several days now, Gerald has had a bad case of pneumonia, causing him trouble breathing and also high fevers. Furthermore, he has had a rash for several months and may also have mild malnutrition. Gerald needs hospital care. Unfortunately, his parents’ incomes as a farmer and carpenter are not enough to pay for his hospital stay.
Though many infections such as pneumonia are simple to treat with antibiotics, many rural Ugandans do not have access to these medicines. Instead, they often must rely on local herbs. Let’s help Gerald and his family raise $106 to pay for his hospital care, so that the doctors and nurses can provide him with the proper antibiotics and medical support he needs. Without this care, Gerald’s infection could worsen and cause other complications.
Gerald’s mother is very excited for her youngest child to receive medical treatment. She belongs to a women’s cooperative that works together to help tend to each other’s fields, and she works very hard to support her family. She is happy when her children are doing well. “Thank you very much for the support of my child,” she says. “With seven children it is very expensive to go to the doctor.”
