Mr. Yao (Hope Commission International)
Nguessan Celestin is 35 years-old man who got a wound on his left hand when he was 15 years-old. HCI met him during an Active Case Finding of Neglected Tropical Diseases in the health district of Sinfra, Cote d’Ivoire.
HCI team with health district team and Pastor Institute representative were visiting Brunokro Health Center whose catchment area comprises Kouadiobakro, the village were Celestin lives. We were looking for wounds from which we could take samples for a research project. We were told that there was a urge case in Kouadiobakro, so we went there. When we asked for the case, someone went and call Celestin. he came out from a corner with dirty cloths and a big wound uncovered. This is one of the worse wound I have ever seen in 18 years of work in the area of wounds.
first meeting on August, 05, 2021
I stated discussing with him:
How long do you have this wound?
Since 20 years, he replied with a voice that conveys suffering.
Have you ever been to hospital?
Instead of Celestin answering, the people around answered in chorus, “he has nobody, his mother and father died”.
I was shocked that people living with him for 20 years say that he has nobody. I was moved trying to find my words. I know the only thing to do to him is amputation but I was not sure what will be his reaction if I suggest that. Before I could speak again, he said “I would like my hand to be amputated so I will be relieved, but they say I should pay 150.000 CFA (300 USD). I have gathered 100.000 CFA (200 $ US) but they asked for 150.000 CFA.“
You said you have never been to hospital, so who told you to pay 300 $US for amputation?
He gave the name of someone known by the health district person who was with me. He told me later that this guy is not a surgeon but a health assistant. Certainly he was playing the intermediaries and trying to make money on this poor guy. If a surgeon sees this Guy (Celestin) and see the effort he has made to gather 200 $ US himself, he will take care of him without asking for more.
How did you get the 200 $US?
I manage with this hand, he answered (showing me the right hand).
Actually he worked in someone else’s farm for payment to gather this money. (People in rural are paid 4$ US a day).
I said in my heart “Oh my God, how can he work with this hand?”
Do you have you 200 $ US right now? Because I want to give you the remaining for you to get treated.
I give it in loan to my community member because I could spend it if I keep it on me. I will continue to find the remaining (100 $US) and when they will reimburse me in December, I will see if I could gather the needed fund for my surgery. HCI will for you and you will get amputated soon. I promised to him.
Everybody started thanking we but I was angry with them because they could have help him if they tried in 20 years.
I took his contacts and we left the village. In the car, coming back, all of us were quiet. We have never seen such suffering. Then the driver told me this: “Mister YAO, I understand now what you mean when you use to say that people could leave close (physicaly) to each other without making a community. No one help him find the money for his surgery but they take loan from him.” I started crying in the car with tears! How is it that the community members could not provide him 100 $ his was expecting and instead, they take from him the 200 $ he got by working with is deformity? He has sisters, brothers, aunties, and uncles around but no one rescued him during 20 years.
After this trip I made contacts with hospitals and we could send him to Djekanou Hospital on September 9, 2021. HCI paid for an ambulance to take him. 2 parents went with him. It was the first time he went of motorcycle and on Vehicle for 20 years. HCI paid also for his amputation.
Finally he got amputated and he is very happy.
The day he left the hospital, HCI purchased for him, cloves; mistress; shoes, towel, and a parfum for him to recover his dignity. He requested a hat and we purchased for him.
We are planning to visit him in his community and support him with an Income Generating Activity, probably a chicken farm. We plan also to make a Prosthesis for him.
