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In total, in 2023 we were able to help 214 children and single parents suffering from illnesses or health risks. Our work focused on Madagascar and Brazil:
- Four children (including a baby who had fallen) underwent surgery following accidents, whilst a further ten children were able to receive physiotherapy following accidents or leg deformities.
- Eight children were treated for severe skin inflammation or severely inflamed eczema.
- We funded hearing aids for both ears for a thirteen-year-old girl with leprosy and severe hearing impairment in both ears.
- For 30 boys, we ensured that circumcision was carried out hygienically and painlessly, thereby preventing infections.
- Twenty-four babies and toddlers with severe respiratory infections were helped with oxygen therapy.
- Ten babies were able to undergo an EEG examination.
- Three children with hydrocephalus were treated.
- Six toddlers with an abnormally high heart rate, a further six with jaundice and a further eight with severe diarrhoea and significant weight loss were successfully treated.
- Six malnourished babies were admitted to hospital for inpatient treatment.
- Five pregnant women who were unwell were given treatment to save the lives of their babies (twins in two cases).
- Four children were examined for suspected meningitis, one for suspected sickle cell disease, one for suspected poisoning and one for an unusually enlarged spleen.
- We provided 20 premature babies with the necessary treatment in the intensive care unit.
- A total of 65 caesarean sections were carried out for expectant mothers in critical situations.
As figures often do not tell the whole story, we would like to use three examples to show just how much these aid measures can save or change lives, and how grateful we are for the donations received, without which we would not have been able to provide this support last year:
Ten-year-old Damien lives with his family in the bush in a remote village on the north-west coast of Madagascar and was struck in the stomach by a piece of wood that someone had thrown at a cow. He subsequently complained of persistent, severe pain. The local doctor suspected a ruptured liver and recommended emergency surgery. An emergency medical team flew to the nearest airport to transport Damien to a hospital. Due to extremely high levels of inflammation, the emergency operation began immediately, and it was found that his abdomen was severely infected. The cause was acute appendicitis. Without the rapid assistance of the medical team, Damien would have died.
The medical team from Mobile Aid Madagascar received a call reporting that a woman had been in labour for five days and that, as the baby was in a breech position, it could only be delivered by caesarean section. However, she was five days’ journey by car from the nearest clinic where a caesarean section could have been performed. There were already fears that the baby had died in the womb. When the medical team therefore arrived by plane to save the mother’s life, they detected a heartbeat in her womb and delivered little Soananjaratenasoa. He was very weak in every respect but, after a few weeks of good care in hospital, was discharged healthy and lively.
Little Mulan developed septicaemia shortly after her birth and was suffering from breathing difficulties. She was given antibiotics and placed in an incubator with non-invasive respiratory support. She was then able to be breastfed by her mother, but suffered a recurrence of blood poisoning due to a bacterial infection in the breast milk. Treatment became more difficult because Mulan was already very weak. After six weeks of a hard fight and intensive care, she was able to leave hospital in good health with her mother.
