Elikana is a one-year-old boy from Tanzania. He lives with his parents and two older siblings. His parents are small-scale farmers who grow food for household consumption and sell the surplus when the harvest allows. Elikana is a calm and observant child who enjoys being around his mother and siblings.
When Elikana was very young, he was injured in a fire-related incident at home, receiving burns on his neck, ears, and parts of his face. He was able to receive care for his wounds, but the resulting scars are thick and tight. This limits his ability to move his head and arm, and affects how he feeds, plays, and interacts with others. It also makes it difficult for his mother to dress and clean him. Without treatment, Elikana is at risk of further functional limitations as he ages.
Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Elikana receive treatment. On February 19th, surgeons at their care center will perform a burn contracture release surgery to restore his neck mobility and prevent further functional limitation. Now, he needs help to fund this $717 procedure.
Elikana’s father says, “He cannot fully bend and straighten his arm, making it hard for him to feed and play.”

