Abbas Rest Orphans

Ntondo Dono from Masenjere near our Muona centre had to drop out of school because he could not see the blackboard even from a front seat. When Richard was in Malawi he told Eleanor back in Scotland about it and she contacted Vision Aid Oversea asking for information. They were very helpful and supplied the name of the hospital  and the people to contact about Ntondo, with the result that Ntondo and a carer travelled to Blantyre Malawi on the normal transport (a lorry) ,he was met by Richard and taken to The Lions Sight Hospital where his eyesight was checked. Fortunately he did not need any operations but he had very bad short-sightedness in both eyes. He was given glasses and he is now looking at his surroundings in a way that he has never seen before. The total cost of this transformation which included glasses, transport and food was £34, not a lot to change a persons life.

Fasani cannot play with other children, most avoid him because he smells.  his jumpers and shirts are always soiled because of the opening in his stomach. He cannot go to school because of his condition. His guardians cannot do anything to help the boy. but clean his soiled clothes and keep his body clean. He has an older brother who looks after him and the brother cares for him lovingly. All he wants to do is go to school to learn and have some playmates.

Fasani is 6 years old, for five of those young years, he has been running around with an open colostomy. In his first year of life he had 3 operations on his bowel, with the third resulting in a colostomy. the state hospital in Blantyre where th operation took place did not have the tubing or colostomy bags. He was sent home to Muona and was told to return months later. His guardians could not do that. they could not afford the cost of transport to Blantyre, it would have meant 2 journeys there and 2 back. the cost of the journeys would have been £6 then there would be the cost of the guardian staying at the hospital with Fasani. there is no welfare state in Malawi everything has to be paid for. the hospital does not supply pillows, sheets or blankets, patients have to bring their own. the hospital does not supply food for the patient. Again they have to bring their own. Which means not only food but firewood, pots and dishes as the guardian has to  make the food in the hospital grounds. This added to the cost of the travel was too much for the guardian who lives from hand to mouth.

Although not an orphan as such we took it upon ourselves to help the boy. we contacted Blantyre hospital and they said to bring him in. when we went to Muona on our second visit at the beginning of July, we phoned the hospital but were told that the only doctor who could perform the operation had gone to Tanzania and was not expected back until the end of August. So as to date we are still waiting for the doctor to come back to the hospital. We are funding the total cost for Fasani. to get him well again.

He will attend one of our Abbas Rest schools to get some teaching until he is confident to go to state school. we will update this section when we have more news.

Great news! Fasani has now gone through his operation to reconnect his bowel. The operation was a complete success and he will now be able to lead a normal life.

He is already attending Abbas Rest school to bring him up to standard for his inclusion into state school. This boys life has been transformed for a few pounds. a small amount to us but a fortune to hid guardian.