Miracle Babies

When Sam Mumia, Kissito Country Director for Uganda , and I (Harry) arrived in Mbale last Thursday, 1 September, we visited Kissito patients who had been referred to Mbale Regional Referral Hospital and Mt. Elgon Hospital and then toured the Health Center in Bugobero.

As I walked through the wards, eyes filled with desperation and hopelessness seemed to follow us at every turn. But hope was found in the eyes of Perez, a patient whose abdominal surgery had been made possible by Kissito. Perez had a big smile on his face and he greeted us with a big “Thank you very much” in the local language of Lugisu. I continued through the wards praying for patients who were in pain and others who were suffering from malaria and other preventable illnesses. I prayed, “Lord please allow the Kissito Village Health Teams to help prevent the needless pain and suffering that I saw.”

While At Mt. Elgon Hospital, I saw a miracle! Linda, a little girl about 3 years old, had been referred to the hospital in a coma due to cerebral malaria. Malaria is a major cause of infant mortality in Uganda where only 1 in 7 children make it to their 5th birthday. While she was being attended to by her pregnant mother, the mom went into labor two months early. To her surprise, she delivered not one but two little girls, weighing two kilograms each (almost 4 ½ lbs.) Both babies are doing well and would have not made it if born in the village. Linda has recovered completely and all have been discharged this week to a very grateful family for the care given them by Kissito.

Please keep us in your prayers as we seek to save lives by training Village Health Teams in Maternal, Newborn, and Children’s Health. 80% of most conditions seen in local health centers can be prevented and we hope to reduce the incidence of illnesses such malaria, malnutrition, and pediatric diarrhea which are major killers of children in Uganda. Our training will also help prepare mothers for healthy deliveries and train birth attendants to monitor and refer patients when danger signs are present. If we can reduce the Maternal Mortality Ratio (currently 700 deaths/100,000 births) thousands of mothers can be saved. Blessings, Harry and Pam