Meet Hla, a 43-year-old wife and mother from Burma.
Early last year, Hla felt a mass in her abdomen gradually become bigger. At the time the pain did not bother her, so Hla used traditional medicine but with no noticeable improvement. This February, she decided to visit a clinic and an ultrasound identified a uterine mass.
Hla lives with her husband and her niece’s family. Her children have all married and moved away. Her husband and niece’s family work as day laborers. Hla grows crops, including banana plants, coconut, and eggplant, and sells pigs to cover other expenses. Her family can sustain their food and other expenses, but do not have the ability to cover healthcare costs. Hla explains, “We are too poor to solve this health problem. It is very difficult in Burma because the health expenditures are so expensive.”
Doctors with our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP), have diagnosed the mass as non-cancerous. However, they have still recommended surgery to have the mass removed in order to avoid any other complications. $1,500 will cover the cost of the surgery Hla needs to remove the mass, the necessary medical supplies, and her hospital stay.
BBP explains that, “following a successful surgery, Hla will be able to rejoin her family without having to worry about her health condition and the costs to her family. When she returns, she will also be able to contribute to the household income.”
Hla shares, “I hope to get an operation as soon as possible. When I get well, I want to work and save money to help my family.”