A six-year-old child with difficulties in swallowing food is in desperate need of K10 million to enable her travel to India for medical attention for what medical experts say is a rare disease.
Faith Mwangonde has been diagnosed with what medical experts say is an inborn error of metabolism which makes her to have problems in swallowing food.
She needs K10 million to enable her go for further examination and treatment at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital.
Faith’s mother, Rose Ndovi, said the government is refusing to fund her trip, saying she is not qualify for external medical funds.
Ndovi said officials at Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) in Lilongwe, where she had been seeking medical attention told her the fund specifically caters for those suffering from kidney and heart diseases.
A letter from KCH paediatrician, Tisunge Mvalo, to Faith’s parents reads in part: “Unfortunately, per our Ministry of Health guidelines, she is not a candidate for external referral sponsorship. We are writing to plead for well-wishers to sponsor Faith so that she may be referred to an external hospital, preferably India, as currently all that can be done in Malawi hospitals is already investigated but no diagnosis is present.”
Faith is currently being given water using a tube that was inserted in her nose.
Ndovi said her family cannot afford to generate the funds and the situation has left them desperate as Faith’s condition is deteriorating.
“In August 2015, Faith started experiencing episodes of malaria. Doctors at KCH and Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital have done their best but have failed to treat the problem and have hence recommended that she goes to India but I cannot afford,” she said.
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