When volunteers first stepped foot at the Njokweni
household, it was crammed with young adults, the children of the matron of the
household – Meline Dhembe. Although we were there to visit a family a local
caregiver said was in need, it was clear from the onset that it was Meline
herself who was really in need of our help.
The mother of six children and numerous grandchildren was
clearly suffering, and to even examine her proved to be a daunting task both
for the volunteers and her faltering energy levels. In the end, we learned that
Meline was suffering from tuberculosis, like many people in this region. According
to the World Health Organisation, more than 400 000 cases of TB require
treatment annually in South Africa, but cure rates barely reach 50%. This is
mostly due to fragmented medical services, poor patient management and a lack
of knowledge regarding strict treatment regimens.
The future for Melina looked bleak, but since our first
visit to her in February of 2012, she has become healthier and stronger. Volunteers
visited her every week, and even took the time to visit with her husband when
he fell ill. They took her EPap each week, and helped with basic medical advice
and treatment at one point when she had a rash on her hands.
Thanks to the care provided by our medical staff and
volunteers, Meline is now free of TB and has gained a whopping 11 kg on our
EPap nutritional supplement. Meline is now a regular member of our Ezwenelisha
Support Group, and attends meetings on a weekly basis.
On our last visit to her house, Melina ran up the road from
her house to the main street to meet the vehicle of volunteers, smiling and
waving as she ran.
If you would like to help more people like Melina, please visit The Happy Africa Foundation website.
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