Baluku is a 32-year-old married man from Uganda, and a father of three. He works as a porter for builders. He owns a small piece of land where his wife cultivates food for the family and sell surplus for buying basic items such as sugar, salt, and soap.
At the age of seven Baluku developed a small painful swelling in his right inguinal (groin) region. His parents couldn’t afford to take him to the hospital, using herbal medicine instead. After some time, both the swelling and the pain reduced. In 2002 the swelling increased in size and the pain resumed. Baluku visited a hospital and was diagnosed with a right inguinal hernia, a condition where part of his intestine is protruding through his inner groin area. Surgery was advised, but his parents were still unable to pay for his treatment.
Due to his hernia, Baluku is currently not working. He is unable to lift building materials or to push items such as sand and cement. Baluku is worried about how his family will survive should anything happen to him. If not treated, the hernia could become stuck leading to damage to the intestine or even the stomach.
$249 will cover the costs of the surgery and care Baluku needs. After surgery, he hopes to work hard and start trading in cocoa so that he can buy a bigger piece of land.