Airat is a cheerful six-year-old girl from Tanzania. She is the fourth-born child in a family of five children, and lives with both of her parents and siblings. Her parents are farmers who grow maize, which they primarily use to feed the family and sell the surplus to meet other household needs.
When Airat was two years old, her parents noticed that her legs were beginning to develop an unusual shape. She was later diagnosed with bilateral moderate-to-severe genu varus, commonly known as bowed legs. Several factors could cause this condition, such as growth disorders, vitamin deficiencies, or excessive fluoride found in contaminated drinking water. As a result, the knees can be angled inwards or outwards, making it difficult to walk and may cause long-term joint damage. Over the years, the condition gradually worsened as she grew. It causes pain when she walks and makes her tire easily, affecting her ability to move comfortably and participate fully in everyday activities.
Despite the ongoing challenges, Airat’s parents had never sought medical treatment for her condition. Their circumstances changed when Kafika House’s village outreach team visited their community and identified Airat as a child who could benefit from specialized orthopedic care. She was referred to the facility for further assessment and treatment.
Following a thorough evaluation by the medical team, Airat has been scheduled for a corrective surgery will help straighten and realign her legs, with the goal of improving her walking ability and reducing the pain and fatigue she experiences. Airat can look forward to a future where she can walk, play, and grow with greater comfort and confidence..
Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $810 to fund treatment for Airat. The procedure is scheduled to take place on September 1st at our medical partner’s care center, Kafika House. Treatment will hopefully restore Airat’s mobility, allow her to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease her risk of future complications.
“We are grateful that the outreach team found our daughter. We hope this treatment will help her walk without pain and enjoy her childhood,” Airat’s parents say.
