(This entry was written by Gina)
Yesterday I had the interesting experience of accompanying one of the orphans and his grandmother to the hospital. This child, who is two years old and absolutely adorable, has a chronic breathing problem for which he has already undergone an operation. This operation did not work, however, as his grandmother can not afford the “good” hospital, and had to take him to a local clinic. He therefore rarely sleeps for more than an hour or so at a time, because no matter what position they put him in or how they prop him up, he can’t breathe while asleep unless he is literally strapped to his grandmothers back in an upright position (women here carry children in what I call “baby back-packs,” which involves laying the child across their back, then wrapping it tightly in a large piece of cloth which they tie around themselves). His grandmother, therefore, does not sleep either. You can’t help but notice how tired this woman always is, but she is the sole provider for this child, which means she works everyday to make teacakes, which she sells for an estimated income of 500 Tanzanian Shillings a day (about 50 cents). Last week his breathing got so bad that in desperation she borrowed the 3000 shillings she needed from a friend to take him to the clinic, and he was given three shots and a prescription she could not afford to buy.
Thankfully her grandson is with KAFAO, and Luka was able to get some money donated from a friend to take this child to the “good” hospital, and pay back her friend. So we went and were at first told we had to come back the next day for the public clinic, which is one of those deals where you sit in a waiting room all day and may or may not be seen, and were also informed that if we did this, the child would not be able to receive his operation until September. Somehow it was figured out that if we paid 10,000 shillings—the “full price” of about 10 dollars—we could be seen that day, and potentially have his operation done very soon. That was the chosen option, and we saw the doctor who ordered an x-ray, and told us to come back for a consultation on Wednesday.
I want to point out that I am not criticizing the hospital. I have no doubt they do all they can for their patients, but the fact is healthcare costs money, in this or any country. My point is such a small amount of money in relative terms has made a huge difference to the health and well being of the child and his grandmother. Hopefully the consultation will go well, and he will now receive the treatment he needs, thus enabling both he and his grandma to get a good night’s sleep.
Yesterday I had the interesting experience of accompanying one of the orphans and his grandmother to the hospital. This child, who is two years old and absolutely adorable, has a chronic breathing problem for which he has already undergone an operation. This operation did not work, however, as his grandmother can not afford the “good” hospital, and had to take him to a local clinic. He therefore rarely sleeps for more than an hour or so at a time, because no matter what position they put him in or how they prop him up, he can’t breathe while asleep unless he is literally strapped to his grandmothers back in an upright position (women here carry children in what I call “baby back-packs,” which involves laying the child across their back, then wrapping it tightly in a large piece of cloth which they tie around themselves). His grandmother, therefore, does not sleep either. You can’t help but notice how tired this woman always is, but she is the sole provider for this child, which means she works everyday to make teacakes, which she sells for an estimated income of 500 Tanzanian Shillings a day (about 50 cents). Last week his breathing got so bad that in desperation she borrowed the 3000 shillings she needed from a friend to take him to the clinic, and he was given three shots and a prescription she could not afford to buy.
Thankfully her grandson is with KAFAO, and Luka was able to get some money donated from a friend to take this child to the “good” hospital, and pay back her friend. So we went and were at first told we had to come back the next day for the public clinic, which is one of those deals where you sit in a waiting room all day and may or may not be seen, and were also informed that if we did this, the child would not be able to receive his operation until September. Somehow it was figured out that if we paid 10,000 shillings—the “full price” of about 10 dollars—we could be seen that day, and potentially have his operation done very soon. That was the chosen option, and we saw the doctor who ordered an x-ray, and told us to come back for a consultation on Wednesday.
I want to point out that I am not criticizing the hospital. I have no doubt they do all they can for their patients, but the fact is healthcare costs money, in this or any country. My point is such a small amount of money in relative terms has made a huge difference to the health and well being of the child and his grandmother. Hopefully the consultation will go well, and he will now receive the treatment he needs, thus enabling both he and his grandma to get a good night’s sleep.
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