Rashidah is a 26-year-old single mother of two children from Gomba District in Uganda. She is the sole provider for her family, and earns a living through small-scale farming. Rashidah and her children live in a modest one-room mud house, and the little income she earns is only sufficient to meet their basic daily needs, leaving no savings for specialised medical care.
About two years ago, Rashidah noticed a swelling on the front of her neck. Over time, the swelling has progressively increased in size and has brought on troubling symptoms including persistent headaches, difficulty carrying heavy loads, and discomfort due to pressure on her airway making it difficult to breathe comfortably and perform her routine farming activities. Rashidah first sought medical care at a hospital close to her home. Although she was evaluated, she was unable to receive the required treatment because she could not afford the medical expenses. With no other option, she returned home discouraged and uncertain about her future. While travelling back from Gombe Hospital, Rashidah met a former beneficiary of the Watsi program, who encouraged her to seek specialised treatment at the hospital.
Determined, Rashidah gathered all her savings and embarked on the long journey to Rushoroza Hospital. She travelled for over 10 hours by public transport, crossing over 15 districts before reaching the hospital in search of hope and healing. Upon arrival, Rashidah was warmly received by the medical team, and underwent thorough clinical assessments and investigations. She was diagnosed with a goitre, an enlargement of the thyroid gland. The attending surgeon recommended a thyroidectomy as the definitive treatment. Unfortunately, Rashidah is unable to afford the cost of the recommended surgery. As a single mother surviving on subsistence farming, she has exhausted all her available resources simply reaching the hospital. She has no health insurance, no stable income, and no family financial support to enable her to undergo surgery.
Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Rashidah receive treatment. On July 23rd, she is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy where surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $333, and she and her family need help raising the funds.
Rashidah says, “Every day, I worry that the swelling in my neck will continue to grow and make it harder for me to breathe and care for my children. I travelled many hours with the little money I had because I believed there was still hope. I humbly ask for your support to help me receive this surgery, regain my health, and continue raising my children. Your kindness will give my family a new beginning.”