We have eight health cases that are ongoing. Only one case out of nine is new and the rest are old (some were from last quarter while others are as old as from last year).
Musa is one of the hydrocephalus cases that we have. He suffered from hydrocephalus, spinal bifida and hernia. Musa had his surgery of both spinal bifida and hydrocephalus in February this year at the children's hospital. He is now on every after 2 weeks physiotherapy at the rehabilitation hospital and he is doing well. We are proud of him and also his mother because his mother cares and nurses him so much.
Todi is our first hydrocephalus case we met around mid last year. Todi has had two surgeries so far. However, he lacks care from his mother. Recently he suffered from malnutrition and hunger because his mother could abandon him in the house for hours without feeding him. He was rescued by a neigbhour who reported her to police and she was put in police cells for two days from where she was forced to take care of her son. Todi is also visiting the hospital for rehabilitation and physiotherapy on a monthly basis.
Josephat has the same challenge like Todi. His mother does not care for him, either. This is evident from the wounds that he always gets on the head as a result of sleeping/ lying on the same side of the head for long hours without turning. The nurses at the hospital always complain about these wounds and the child losing weight which is caused by not feeding him.
It is actually a bit hard even with Maria (warden at Window of Life Babies Home) to work with these two mothers because they want to be pushed always and do not mind at all. But for the interest of the children we keep on pushing them.
Jeniva was also operated of hydrocephalus in May. She has recovered very quickly and though she is on hospital review monthly, this may not be very long according to the nurses. She might continue with reviews for up to September and she is well, unless if she develops something suspicious, then she can continue.
Daniel was diagnosed of bilateral club feet . He was introduced to constantive treatment, with manipulation and casting of both legs. His condition is being treated free of charge at CoRSU hospital in Entebbe. Our role as Window of life is to provide transport for him to visit the hospital on a weekly basis. He is anticipated to have surgery on the legs next week.
At 3 years old, Lamono's mother started noticing something abnormal happening to her daughters leg. The leg started growing short and the foot started clubbing, curving upward from the bottom. Lamono was taken to diffrent clinics in Masindi and Masindi Hospital seeking a solution. However, the problem could not be solved and her mother gave up. But Lamono started feeling pain in the leg and could not walk and pushed the mother back to hospital. In 2016, Hoima Hospital conducted a free medical camp for children with club foot, cleft mouth and hernia. Masindi hospital was asked to refer patients with these cases to this medical camp. Lamono was among those referred by Masindi Hospital and in 2016, she got a surgery. Around early 2018, the pain started coming back basically because (according to the doctors) Lamono was not taken back for medical reviews and physiotherapy.
In our visit with her at CoRSu hospital, she was diagnosed of pip of the right leg. She was introduced to manipulation and casting as surgery is being planned. Hospital visits are going on for review as we wait to be informed of when the surgery will be done.
Lamono likes school and she wants to become a nurse.
This time, our hospital cases have been costly in terms of transport. It has been happening that almost every week there is a case for review. We arrange with Maria's assisten that if she travels this week, then Maria travels the following week with these mothers. It would even be possible to just give them transport to hospital alone but from experience some of them when handed cash to go to hospital they don't reach but instead use the money for other things. This is why we are insisting on accompanying them every time.
