“I have a very painful hernia, but I don’t have money for surgery,” shares Kisembo, a-69-year-old husband and father of two children who works as a bicycle mechanic in Uganda. Due to the pain from the hernia, Kisembo is unable to lift heavy items.
Kisembo started feeling strong pain in his right groin region two years ago. He visited a health center, where he was given medicine but was not told the cause of his pain. Later, he developed swelling in the same area. In April 2015, he visited a government hospital for further evaluation. Kisembo was diagnosed with a right inguinal hernia—a protrusion of the intestines through weak points in the abdominal muscles.
He was given medicine and asked to return to the hospital in June 2015 for surgery. When he returned for surgery, he was asked to pay for his treatment, but he didn’t have money, as he was expecting to receive free treatment. He resorted to using herbs for relieving pain until a friend of his told him about the assistance available through Watsi’s medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation.
Kisembo, who never went to school but learned mechanics on the job, is self-employed and repairs neighbors’ bicycles at his home. He earns little money for basic items such as salt and soap. He is worried about running out of business because people are buying motorcycles instead of bicycles, and he has begun digging to start a small farm to support his family.
For $220, Kisembo will undergo surgery to repair the hernia. During the procedure, a surgeon pushes the protruding tissue back into the abdomen and sews together the weakened muscle with a synthetic mesh. Over time, muscle tissue grows into and around the mesh to strengthen the area. Funding also covers the cost of two weeks of hospital care, including blood tests and medicines.
After surgery, Kisembo hopes to resume digging to produce food for sale as well as for home consumption.