“Sanyu is a farmer in Uganda, but currently he is unable to work in his fields because of the pain,” reports our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). “This means he has no source of income at all, and he is concerned about his wife working alone in the fields.”
Sanyu’s pain comes from a hernia that has been present in his groin area for about twenty years. Though the condition did not use to cause him discomfort, “two years ago, he started feeling pain and developed a swelling in that area.” Hernias in this part of the body develop when intestines or other contents of the abdomen break through a part of the abdominal wall and press into the inguinal canal, a nearby part of the reproductive system.
Sanyu’s hernia means he can’t carry out the manual labor that is his livelihood—and thus has not been able to earn income for his family of nine children. Furthermore, 66-year-old Sanyu’s hernia could get even worse if untreated, potentially causing parts of his intestines to die due to lack of blood flow.
For $220, we can fully fund the hernia repair surgery that he needs—as well as the medications and two weeks of hospital time he will need to recuperate from the procedure. “A hernia repair will reduce the risk of obstruction for Sanyu,” explains AMHF. “He will also lead an improved quality of life, free from the pain.”
