Alinaitwe is a 41 years old married father of four children from Uganda. He has three boys and one girl. He gets income from motorcycle transport. However, the money is not sufficient for all his family needs.
About thirteen years ago, when Alinaitwe was working in the garden, he felt a sharp pain in left inguinal (groin) area. After a few weeks, he developed a swelling in the same area. The swelling increased in size and the pain has been on and off. Alinaitwe visited a hospital ten years ago where he was diagnosed with an inguinal hernia, a condition where part of his intestine is protruding through his inner groin area. He was advised to have surgery, which he couldn’t afford. However, he has kept going to hospital and receiving medication, but this has not relieved the sharp pain he gets. Due to the pain, he is unable to lift heavy items and he is unable to work in the garden for a long time. He also cannot ride a motorcycle long distances.
If not treated, the hernia could become become stuck, leading to damage to the intestine or even the stomach. $249 will cover the costs of the surgery and care Alinaitwe needs. After surgery, he hopes to continue doing motorcycle transport and plans to do some farming to supplement on his income.