Merisiana is a two-year-old girl from Tanzania. She is the only child of a single mother and is lovingly cared for by her grandmother. Her mother runs a small business to support the family, while her grandmother is a farmer who grows maize and beans. She also prepares and sells Twogwa, a traditional drink, to earn additional income.
In April this year, Merisiana accidentally placed her left hand in hot Twogwa that her grandmother had prepared and left to cool. She sustained severe burns and was admitted to the hospital for one month, where she received treatment.
During her recovery at home, her family noticed that her left wrist and fingers were becoming stiff and increasingly difficult to move. An attempt was made to manually release the contracture, but unfortunately, this caused the scarred area to rupture. She was taken back to the hospital, where the wound was treated. The contracture, however, worsened, further limiting her movement and making it difficult for Merisiana to use her hand normally. Her other grandmother learned about Kafika House and brought Merisiana to the center for specialized care.
Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Merisiana receive treatment. On September 1st, surgeons at their care center will perform contracture release surgery and skin graft to help restore flexibility and improve the function of her left hand, allowing Merisiana to use it more fully and giving her greater independence as she grows. Now, Merisiana’s family needs help to fund this $832 procedure.
“We are grateful that Merisiana has been brought to Kafika House. We hope this treatment will help her use her hand freely again and enjoy playing like other children,” says Merisiana’s mother