Clover Health International

Story of Mr. LWIGA : A Journey with Leprosy – Leprosy in Tanzania

clover_admin — Tue, 20 Aug 2024 16:56:00 +0000

Demographic information:
NAME: Samson Mussa Lwiga
TRIBE: Hehe
SEX: Male
AGE: 63 years
OCCUPATION: Small-scale farming and fishing

He has been smoking cigarettes and drinking local brews for over 10 years. He has a positive family history of leprosy (his grandfather suffered from it). He was married and had two kids, but his wife left him due to leprosy. Currently, he is married to another woman.

　Disease History

Mr. Lwiga’s first presentation of symptoms of leprosy dates as far back as 1985 at the age of 24, when he suffered high-grade fever and black patches on his face. His grandfather, who once suffered from leprosy, recognized the signs and gave him traditional medicines, which relieved his symptoms temporarily.

Five years later, he had a second, more serious episode, with high-grade fever, large patches on his face, and numbness in his hands and feet. The numbness was so severe that he could walk barefoot for long distances without realizing he had lost his slippers until he stepped on sharp small stones or felt crashes from sand on his leg. This time, he went to traditional healers, but still no hope of relief was found. The severity of the disease increased thus he failed to keep up with his farming and fishing activities. He travelled to move in with his brother to be taken care, but his sister-in-law stigmatized him. So, they suggested that the only treatment was for him to be isolated in the forests and given his needs there.

With all this isolation, he neither got healed nor cured of his illness. On top of that, stigmatization brought him depression and feelings of worthlessness. His mental health was affected very much and death was all he was feeling.

The moment of suffering lasted for up to 6 more years making a complete 11 years of suffering without professional care. Light shone in 1996, at age 35, his far uncle heard of his sickness and came to give him a helping hand. He took him to a health center where after evaluation of his condition, the doctor suspected him to have leprosy, and he directed Mr. Lwiga to the Nazareth Leprosy Centre. There, thorough examination of his conditions was done, and it was confirmed that he was indeed suffering from leprosy. He was started on treatment.

He was glad of the help that he was finally receiving, but all of a sudden, the light of treatment that once shone was dimmed due to serious drug reaction. Three days after start of his medications, he experienced a severe drug reaction that led to pleural effusion, requiring hospitalization at St. Francis Referral Hospital for almost a year. Thankfully, his prognosis was good, and he was discharged and returned home.

His return was not easy since no one accepted him, and his relatives continued to stigmatize him. His wife left with their two kids and married another man. Life was harsh, and he had to struggle to cope after 12 years of being sick in a community that termed him as disadvantageous.

The life became even harder a year later, when he got sick and was diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis. With no one to take care of him, he returned to the Nazareth Leprosy Centre where he was referred to St. Francis Referral Hospital for treatment. After a year of treatment, he was discharged. However, the feeling of stigma from family and neighbors ate him up, leading to make the difficult decision to seek for shelter at the Nazareth Leprosy Centre. Thankfully, he was given shelter, and he took small tasks like taking care of his fellow patients. He also participated in small activities like small-scale farming to earn a living. Few years later, he got married to another woman who is supportive and caring.

　A New Beginning

Mr. Lwiga’s journey with leprosy was filled with darkness, that he, himself, saw not a single ray of hope in the beginning. However, with treatment, support from his new wife, and a supportive community and friends, he found hope. He is no longer depressed, and his freedom of speech, association, and right to live are respected. Although he cannot work as much as he did when he was young and energetic, he still makes some significance in the community despite the visible sequelae of leprosy, such as the amputation of his fingers and toes.

　A Message of Awareness

Mr. Lwiga’s story highlights that leprosy still exists in the community, but often, patients do not seek or receive help stemming from community beliefs about the disease, which are either stigmatization or superstition in the disease management. Mr. Lwiga wishes the community to understand that the medical attention should be taken as soon as the patient is suspected of leprosy. After thorough investigations, treatment will be established, curing the patient completely. He emphasizes that once leprosy patients are taking their medicines properly, they will not transmit the disease. So, the community has no need to fear leprosy patients but should join hands to support them in their daily lives.

As we have heard in Mr. Lwiga’ s story, leprosy can be complicated with other conditions like tuberculosis. Integrated care the is important to ensure effective care for these patients.

‘Integrated care is important to ensure effective care for these patients. ’

The post Story of Mr. LWIGA : A Journey with Leprosy – Leprosy in Tanzania first appeared on Clover Health International.

A Journey To Eliminate NOMA, A Young Passionate Dental Surgeon From Tanzania

clover_admin — Thu, 02 May 2024 15:14:03 +0000

Noma (cancrum oris) is a pernicious gangrenous infectious disease affecting the orofacial hard and soft tissue. It is associated with high morbidity and mortality and severe facial disfigurement which calls the need the need of extensive reconstruction following treatment.It affects mostly young children between 2-6 years residing in remote area were poverty, malnutrition, poor oral hygiene, recurrent infection clusters. Poor oral hygiene perpetuates the progression of the diseases in the presence of malnutrition as well as compromised immunity of the child. According to the WHO, around 480 million people from Africa suffer from oral diseases and NOMA has been listed as one among the common oral diseases in the African region.

Noma (cancrum oris)

A pernicious gangrenous infectious disease affecting the orofacial hard and soft tissue.

It is associated with high morbidity and mortality and severe facial disfigurement which calls the need the need of extensive reconstruction following treatment.

Management of Noma requires extensive care in terms of medication and reconstructive surgeries which are very expensive thus posing financial burden for the affected individuals, this rings an alarm for preventive measures against the disease as prevention is more cost effective.

Meet Dr. Erick Sylivester, a young passionate dedicated dentist graduate from the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Tanzania, global oral health advocate holding a PGD (global oral health) from the University of Bergen, Norway, and currently works closely with the One Health Society of Tanzania in the fight against neglected tropical diseases.

Dr Erick was born in the heart of the lake zone Mwanza region in a local village called Igoma.

Growing up in this setting, his interest in oral health was triggered by a devastating incidence of a young boy with a toothache where extraction was done at a traditional healer under unsterile state and the outcome was death. The region is also famous for practicing harmful traditional practices related to oral health including intra oral mutilations (IMO) of so-called plastic teeth, uvulectomy, and frenectomy.

In the course to seek an understanding in oral health, Erick was inspired to be an oral health personal in his life path.

Having joined the dental school, during his junior clinical year he encountered yet another ravaging case of NOMA in a young boy aged 5 years old.

Seeing the destruction of the disease, it fanned the flames for a deeper understanding of the disease basically on the causes, progression and the damage it has on different aspects of life of the victims throughout this journey of NOMA. Erick has focused on addressing the primary predisposing cause and risk factor for NOMA which aims to completely eliminate NOMA from the society.

NOMA is a deadly fatal disease, with a mortality rate of 90% when left untreated. It affects mostly children aged between 2 and 6 years living in poorly devastated region, around the NOMA belt of the sub-Saharan countries.

NOMA has been recognized as a newly added neglected tropical disease in the year 2023, and little research has been conducted in this new neglected tropical disease. However, malnutrition, poverty, poor oral health and immunocompromised state remain solemnly as the predisposing factors of NOMA.

Considering the fact that NOMA has great impacts to the victims and survivors of the disease, prompt actions are very crucial to counteract the impacts of the disease itself, including stigmatization, discrimination, and deprival to essential human rights.

Nearly all neglected tropical diseases including NOMA can be prevented as prevention is better than cure, towards the attainment of the sustainable development goals laid forward by the WHO. Erick started another milestone of raising NOMA awareness prevention by conducting oral health education campaign to primary school children in Dar es salaam, Tanzania, and other regions across the country in Tanzania.

It wasn’t possible to achieve this milestone on a journey to eliminate NOMA alone. He decided to collaborate with a colleague, Dr. Winifrida Lucas, whereby he initiated the movement to a healthier NOMA-free community through community outreaches which focused in remote areas by providing oral health information to primary school children, oral screening, demonstration on proper tooth brushing and other oral hygiene measures.

Due to this vision, Erick also involved the Chemi Cotex industries, the only oral care products manufacturing firm in the state to play role in the journey of eliminating NOMA. The highlighted approach was of great significance as more than ten thousand children were reached and being even provided by oral care products including toothbrush, toothpastes and flyers. The flyers were stamped in their schools to make them remember about oral health, and thus, be free from this devastating neglected tropical disease which pose severe impacts to the affected and survivors.

Interestingly enough on the course of the journey, he managed to come across Dr. Katanta Simwanza, the country director of Miracle Corners, a non-governmental organization based on oral health promotion to widen more the procession of achieving the goal laid ahead. This interaction then broadened this young passionate dental surgeon and is now looking way forward to focus on parenting the community on the importance of proper nutrition among children, importance of child immunization and early treatment of infections among children by early visit to health centers which are available all over the country, and in hand with oral health awareness measures to build a healthier society free from NOMA.

NOMA FREE SOCIETY IS IMPORTANT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The post A Journey To Eliminate NOMA, A Young Passionate Dental Surgeon From Tanzania first appeared on Clover Health International.

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clover_admin — Sat, 30 Mar 2024 13:04:55 +0000

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The post test first appeared on Clover Health International.

Breaking the cycle: Championing behavior change to curb NTDs – Bilharzia in Rwanda

clover_admin — Wed, 28 Feb 2024 03:06:02 +0000

Breaking the cycle: Championing behavior change to curb NTDs

Behaviour is the end result of a prevailing story in one’s mind: Change the story and the behavior will change.
Those are the words of Dr. Jacinta Mpalyenkan and they paint a real picture of what social behavior change communication tools can achieve.
And I guess that is the reason why Merck Group and Dalberg Media have identified the power of communication and organized Bilharzia Storytelling Lab in Kenya, Rwanda and then Ethiopia.

This lab became my source of motivation to Beat Neglected Tropical Diseases and become a Health Equity Champion.
Prior to attending the Bilharzia Storytelling Lab, I knew almost nothing about NTDs, WASH and related interventions. But the lab opened up my eyes, and I started learning about this set of 21 stigmatized diseases that have been neglected by the Global Health Agenda.
I started implementing the lab, difficult but …… baby steps!!!

"Behaviour is the end result of a prevailing story in one’s mind: Change the story and the behavior will change."

Dr. Jacinta Mpalyenkan

After scooping the prize for the lab, I reached out to the Ministry of Health to indicate the most endemic areas for Schistosomiasis; that were prone to the disease and that’s how the money for the prize was directed to the Eastern Province of Rwanda which is one of the highly tropical regions of the country.
But what was the best solution that deserved school-aged children? And what was the best strategy to capture their thinking about the disease.

Well, Mass Drugs Administration (MDA) were conducted in the region, but apart from that, another IoT strategy had to be taken, well not really medical but effective.

We brainstormed on creating a sustainable solution. Awareness as just speaking and teaching was not enough; hence we looked for something that we can leave for children for them to use on a daily basis such that the message would be transmitted, and it would be a sustainable thing.

We came up with a comic book with Bilharzia preventive messages, and organizing storytelling competitions among students to make sure that the message sinks in their mind. It was a solution that we had thought of for a very long time.

Time flies…….and it came to pass: We started the project, we invited different visitors, from the public sector, NGOs, civil society and our distinguished guests: The students who are the real target of the program.
We brought all of the NTDs and WASH partners together to try to raise awareness about the communication intervention that is targeting over 2,5o0 school-aged children.
We launched the solution that was appreciated by most of the dignitaries present. We donated more than 2,500 notebooks; each for a child, 90 teachers were also given particular notebooks with the same message and each class had a calendar; remember the message was the same: Fight Bilharzia.

Guess what? The fun thing…. I was told that there were some school dropouts about 20 students who got the notebooks and came back to school. At least, that shows me, apart from saving their lives through combating NTDs, we are contributing in developing well-rounded individuals beneficial to their families, countries and the society at large.

But the overall objective of the project was to influence and change behavior among the last mile communities so that they can prevent Bilharzia and other Neglected Tropical Diseases.

Recently, we went back to celebrate the World NTDs Day with the students, and we encountered very inspiring stories of how students are changing their behaviors to enhance hygienic practices in their lives.

We are hoping that after the project, the impact will be scaled larger to accommodate more students and it will be our opportunity to extend the thinking of what we can do to engage more children about Neglected Tropical Diseases’ awareness.
May everyone reading this choose the road untraveled and become a champion of Neglected Tropical Diseases especially young people.
It is of essence to be reminded that NTDs affect the African and Asian continent which account for the higher percentage of young people on the planet, that is why young people need to be engaged in this mission.

The post Breaking the cycle: Championing behavior change to curb NTDs – Bilharzia in Rwanda first appeared on Clover Health International.

N’guessan Celestin rescued from 20 years of suffering and rejection – Buruli ulcer in Côte d’Ivoire

clover_admin — Wed, 19 Oct 2022 07:15:08 +0000

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.

The post N’guessan Celestin rescued from 20 years of suffering and rejection – Buruli ulcer in Côte d’Ivoire first appeared on Clover Health International.