The picture is that of Mrs. Beatrice Petani, 59 years old, from Petani Village, Traditional Authority is Changata, Thyolo.
Convulsions At Midnight
The poor woman was quite well until the night of 29th January 2011 when around midnight she started convulsing and was restless. Her husband wasted no time but rushed her to Malamulo SDA Hospital. She kept on having convulsions despite the treatment she was given. The clinicians worked her up and sent her for CT Scan of the brain (picture attached). That was at a place 60 kilometers away (37.2 miles). Lo and behold it was a tumor. So what next? The patient was referred to a larger hospital where nothing else was done.
Saved for $ 1,000.00
If this patient had enough resources the tumor could have been removed at a private hospital and at a cost of about $1,000.00. Her husband cannot afford that.
We Have no Neurosurgeon
Her condition is deteriorating day by day. Now the weakness on the right side of her body is worse than it was a month ago. If she were in the West, neurosurgeons would have booked her in to put their skills into use. Out here, we do not have a neurosurgeon. The local people will think any doctor can handle the case. Africa has challenges more than what is seen by a naked eye.
by Dr. Smith Chibaka
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Editors Note:
This story by Dr. Chibaka is not unusual. It is seen over and over, day after day, all over the nation of Malawi. A small amount of help can go so far, and the simplest medical supplies and equipment can mean the difference between life and death. The Malawi Project needs your help to get more medical aid into the nation of Malawi.