Success! Danson from Uganda raised $316 to fund malnutrition treatment.

100%

$316 raised, $0 to go

$316

raised

to go

Danson's story
Danson's update

September 21, 2017

Danson a three-year-old boy from Uganda. His mother’s name is Agnes. Agnes is a farmer who grows maize, millet, potatoes, and groundnuts for income to support Danson and her elderly parents. Agnes enjoys visiting relatives during her free time.

Danson was well until one month ago, when he started losing weight and appetite. Agnes took him to a nearby health center, where he was diagnosed with malnutrition. Danson was given some antibiotics and was referred to Bwindi Community Hospital, our medical partner’s care center, for further management. Danson needs malnutrition treatment to restore his growth and development.

Fortunately, with the help of our medical partner, The Kellermann Foundation, Danson is scheduled to receive his treatment on September 21. The family needs help raising $316 to pay for treatment. Agnes says, “I thank the donors for supporting my son’s treatment.”

Danson a three-year-old boy from Uganda. His mother's name is Agnes. Agnes is a farmer who grows maize, millet, potatoes, and groundnuts for...

Photo of Danson post-operation

October 9, 2017

Danson underwent malnutrition treatment.

After treatment, Danson is able to eat, and he is much happier.

His mother, Agnes, says, “I thank donors for supporting my son’s treatment.”

After treatment, Danson is able to eat, and he is much happier. His mother, Agnes, says, "I thank donors for supporting my son's treatme...

September 21, 2017
PROFILE SUBMITTED
Danson was submitted by David Wamuwaya at The Kellermann Foundation.
September 21, 2017
TREATMENT OCCURRED
Danson received treatment at Bwindi Community Hospital in Uganda. Medical partners often provide care to patients accepted by Watsi before those patients are fully funded, operating under the guarantee that the cost of care will be paid for by donors.
September 22, 2017
PROFILE PUBLISHED
Danson's profile was published to start raising funds.
October 9, 2017
TREATMENT UPDATE
Danson's treatment was successful. Read the update.
December 1, 2017
FULLY FUNDED
Danson's treatment was fully funded.

Funded by 1 donor

Treatment

Ped. Malnutrition

Cost Breakdown
Diagnosis
Procedure

On average, it costs $316 for Danson's treatment

Hospital Fees

$134

Medical Staff

Medication

$15

Supplies

$135

Labs

$27

Other

Symptoms
Impact on patient's life
Cultural or regional significance

What kinds of symptoms do patients experience before receiving treatment?

At our medical partner's care center, Bwindi Community Hospital, two types of malnutrition are treated on an in-patient basis: moderate acute malnutrition and severe acute malnutrition. Moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) is also called “wasting” and is characterized by low weight-for-height indicators or by low mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) indicators. Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is the most dangerous type of malnutrition. It is caused by extreme deprivation of vital nutrients and becomes life-threatening because of its alterations of important functions of the body. SAM can manifest in two ways: severe wasting and oedema. Severe wasting is caused by extreme nutrient and calorie deficiency. Its symptoms include a massive loss of body fat and muscle tissue. This results in “baggy pants syndrome," in which the skin is loose while the body is extremely thin. Malnutrition of this type is also called marasmus. Oedema is caused primarily by the deficiency of protein in the diet. The body's extremities become extremely swollen. The oedema then progresses to the face and other areas of the body. Other symptoms include skin lesions, an enlarged liver, and changes in hair color. Malnutrition of this type is also called kwashiorkor. Kwashiorkor is the most common type of malnutrition treated at Bwindi Community Hospital.

What is the impact on patients’ lives of living with these conditions?

If not treated, moderate acute malnutrition can quickly progress to severe acute malnutrition. Chronic malnutrition can cause long-term growth and development issues, such as stunting and reduced cognitive capacity. Untreated, severe acute malnutrition can result in death.

What cultural or regional factors affect the treatment of these conditions?

There are many underlying causes of acute malnutrition in sub-Saharan Africa, including poverty, family size, lack of nutritional knowledge, mental health issues in caregivers, disease, war, social problems, and lack of clean water. Treatment is necessary to prevent malnutrition from becoming chronic and having a long-term impact on a child's development.

Process
Impact on patient's life
Risks and side-effects
Accessibility
Alternatives

What does the treatment process look like?

Bwindi Community Hospital has a robust program for the treatment and prevention of malnutrition. Combining multifaceted community education, the assessment of nutritional status of children, and treatment of acute malnutrition, its goal is to prevent all forms of malnutrition. Hospital in-patient treatment, supported by Watsi, is reserved for the most acute cases. Every three months, the hospital’s Community Health Nursing Team (CHT) works with Village Health Teams (VHTs) to assess the nutritional status of all of the approximate 10,000 under-five children in its catchment area. Milder cases of malnutrition, which are the majority, are referred to district health centers for management. Early case-finding and treatment prevents progression to life-threatening, expensive, and complicated malnutrition. In addition, the CHT and VHTs conduct health education classes for the community. Subjects covered include family planning, sanitation and hygiene, maternal health, and prevention of illness. All of these issues are related to malnutrition. Once admitted to the hospital, a child is given a series of milk formulas. These formulas are calibrated to carefully increase nutrient and protein intake. After the formula phase, the child transitions to “Ready to Use Therapeutic Food” (RUTF). At Bwindi Community Hospital, the RUTF is a peanut butter-based food called plumpyNut™. It is nutrient-rich and packed with a high concentration of protein and energy. Supplements, such as Vitamin A and folic acid, are given. Antibiotics are given, if needed, to treat concurrent infections. After transitioning to the RUTF, the child is given an appetite test. If he or she eats well, the child is discharged and returns home with a supply of plumpyNut™ to supplement local foods. While the child is in the hospital, his or her caregiver receives health and nutritional education, including cooking classes, to help prevent recurrence of malnutrition. Food from a demonstration nutritional garden is used in the cooking classes and provided free to patients. When discharged, the child is referred to a local health facility and community nurse for follow-up. The child continues receiving treatment and supplemental food until his or her goal weight is reached.

What is the impact of this treatment on the patient’s life?

If the correct treatment is started promptly, a patient’s life can be saved. Any long-term impacts, such as stunting or cognitive development issues, can be mitigated or prevented. The child’s development is put back on track.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

There are no side effects or risks with this treatment.

How accessible is treatment in the area? What is the typical journey like for a patient to receive care?

Care for malnutrition without severe complications is available in district health centers, which is where most children are treated. When complications arise, adequate treatment is only available in hospitals. Patients are usually referred to the hospital by a community health team. They generally travel from 20 to 50 kilometers away and arrive by either walking or traveling on a hired motorcycle.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

There are no alternative medications to treat acute, complicated malnutrition. Alternative hospitals are more than two-hour drive away.

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.

Dorothy is a 68-year-old woman from a village in the Lilongwe District of Malawi with three married children. She depends on small-scale farming as she grows maize and groundnuts for consumption and commercial purposes to support herself. Dorothy started experiencing itching followed by a lump in her left breast which kept growing in size and became painful. She visited different health centers where she was unable to receive a diagnosis or treatment until she was seen by a surgeon from Nkhoma Hospital who conducted a free clinic at her nearby health center. Dorothy was diagnosed with breast cancer and she needs to undergo mastectomy surgery. She is willing to undergo the procedure but is unable to afford the surgery. This condition has had a negative impact on Dorothy’s life as she feels pain in her breast and is worried that the cancer could spread. Treatment will relieve Dorothy of the pain and she will no longer be stressed. Dorothy is requesting $567 to fund treatment from our partner, African Mission Healthcare. Dorothy says, “I am looking forward to treatment and full recovery.”

Houy is a widowed grandmother. She is 63 years old and has three daughters, two sons, and six grandchildren. She used to sell groceries out of her home but retired when her husband retired. Sadly her husband passed away about 4 years ago due to hypertension. She now lives with her oldest daughter in Phnom Penh. At home, she likes to watch the news on TV and exercise with her grandchildren. About six months ago, Houy developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her blurry vision and difficulty keeping her balance, especially in low or bright light. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, so it is like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so is not able to go places on her own. When Houy learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled there hoping for treatment. On December 5th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery, and an intraocular lens implant in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $253 procedure. She said: "My hope is that after eye surgery I can see better, do more outside on my own, and help to take care of my grandchildren and myself even more."

Thu Ra is a 13-year-old boy from Burma who lives with his family in Karen State. Thu Ra is the youngest of his three siblings. His father is a day labourer and his mother is a homemaker. Around seven years ago, Thu Ra started experiencing a loss of appetite and feelings of dizziness along with muscle tightness and pain throughout his body. He was diagnosed with thalassemia, a blood disorder that causes the body to have less hemoglobin than normal. Physicians at Mae Sot General Hospital determined Thu Ra should undergo a splenectomy, surgery to remove the spleen, which will help manage his condition. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund this procedure. The treatment is scheduled to take place at Mae Sot General Hospital on April 1st. Once completed, Thu Ra's quality of life is expected to improve. Thu Ra's mother said, “If Thu Ra gets better, I wish for him to finish school and become an educator. Thank you so much to the donors. If it were just up to me, I couldn’t afford the surgery on my own. It means a lot to me and my family. Thank you.”

Danson's Timeline

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Funded by 1 donor

Treatment

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100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.