Meet Eliru, a 24-year-old man living in Uganda. He is a third year university student and the son of a single mother. “Eliru has one parent who is a peasant and struggles to pay his school fees,” shares our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF).
Six months ago, Eliru developed a painful swelling in his right shoulder that he later learned was a lipoma, a benign tumor composed of fat tissue. Eliru’s lipoma is adversely affecting his day-to-day life: “he feels pain during lectures and this affects his studies,” says AMHF.
The pain is also making it harder for Eliru to help his mother. “He cannot carry anything heavy,” AMHF states, “and this affects his ability to help his mother with domestic work at home.”
AMHF explains, “Eliru cannot afford his treatment and wishes to be helped so that he can be well.” If the lipoma is not removed, it is likely that his lipoma will continue to grow and his pain will increase.
For $120, Eliru will receive a surgery in which his lipoma will be removed. AMHF expects that after the surgery, the swelling will go down and Eliru will no longer be in pain.
“I hope to be fine and well after the surgery,” shares Eliru, “and to be able to finish my studies.”