Lorewo

When 32-year-old Lorewo* got a job after a year of unemployment, he was elated! It didn't matter that it was 300 miles from home; he was excited to provide for his family again. He was heading to Singida in central Tanzania to work as a guard at the Uganda–Tanzania Crude Oil Pipeline construction project. 

“I was told that the pipeline construction was a long-term project and that I would have job security for at least four to five years if hired. This made me happy as my family had struggled a lot since I lost my job. My wife and I agreed that I should take it and visit home whenever I got time off. This was my first time away from my village and I was scared, but I knew I had to do it for my family.”

— Lorewo

Unfortunately, Lorewo’s big break was short-lived. After two weeks at his new job, he fell terribly ill. 

“It started with a bad stomach ache. I had not been eating very well, as I couldn’t afford much food until I got my first paycheck, so I attributed it to hunger. But it got worse. After two weeks of this, I called home and asked my brother to send me money for the hospital. He sent me 200,000 Tshs ($82), but the local hospital could not figure out what was wrong with me; they gave me panadol [paracetamol] for the pain and that was it.”

— Lorewo

Lorewo’s Brother

As Lorewo's condition continued deteriorating, his family grew concerned and asked him to return home. 

“We were all worried. At this point, he had been there for a month and every time I talked to him, he sounded sicker than the previous day. So our relatives came together and contributed money for him to catch the next bus home.”

— Lorewo's Brother

Lorewo was, however, concerned about his job. Since he had only just started, he would lose his job once he left. 

“I tried to stay and work. But I was getting weaker and weaker and towards the end, it was clear that I couldn’t even stand for short periods when my job required me to be on my feet at least eight hours a day. I had no choice but to resign and leave.”

— Lorewo

Lorewo took the next bus to Karatu. He planned to meet his brother in Karatu, who would return him home to his village

“I was so sick when I boarded that bus. The bus was overcrowded and hot, but I tried to remain strong. We stopped several times for passengers to buy food, but I was too sick and nauseous to eat or drink anything, so I tried to sleep as much as the pain would let me. I was also running a high fever which made my condition worse. It helped that most of the journey was on a tarmac road and thus was a smooth ride. I don’t think I would have been able to handle the rocking back and forth on a dirt road.”

— Lorewo

When Lorewo got to Karatu, he was in bad shape.

“He couldn’t even get out of the bus. He was on his knees in pain. People said a sick man on the bus had just arrived from Singida and couldn’t move. I ran closer to see it was Lorewo. I was very scared but knew I had to act quickly. I took a taxi and brought him to FAME.”

— Lorewo's Brother

Lorewo’s brother knew of FAME, as he had been here a few years ago. 

“When my wife couldn’t conceive a baby after many years of trying, a local clinic in Ngorongoro referred us to FAME. We came and saw the doctors and after a couple of months, we conceived; our son is now 3 years old! So I knew that FAME was a place with doctors who always help people.”

— Lorewo's Brother

Once at FAME, Lorewo was rushed to the emergency department. After numerous tests, the doctors recommended emergency surgery: a laparotomy. He was diagnosed with a rupture in the small intestine that leaked contents into the abdominal cavity.  This caused an infection that required urgent medical attention and surgical intervention. Lorewo’s recovery would be more complicated because he suffered from malnutrition. 

“It has been a long journey. Lorewo has been at FAME for more than three weeks. His recovery has been very complicated, but we thank FAME doctors for being able to see what was wrong with him and heal him. I’m not sure if he would have survived if we had taken him elsewhere.”

— Lorewo's Brother

“Surgery at FAME saved my life. I was very, very sick when I got here. When the doctor mentioned surgery, I was hesitant; I was already in so much pain I didn’t want him to add to this by cutting me with a knife. But the surgeon talked to me and explained what he would do and why it was necessary. Once I understood the reasons behind the surgery and the potential benefits, one of which was to stop the pain, I agreed to the surgery.”

— Lorewo

Lorewo now looks forward to reuniting with his wife and kids. 

“I am looking forward to being home again. I’m sad that I am going back home just as I left, with nothing, but I am grateful for my health and I know once I am fully recovered, I will get another job, provide for my family and repay my brother for all his kindness. Thank you, FAME, for this second chance.”

— Lorewo

*The patient's name has been changed to protect his privacy and permission was secured to share their story. The quotes have been translated from Maasai to English.

Naserian

During the drought periods in northern Tanzania, Maasai pastoralists move their cattle to areas with better access to water and fresh pasture. However, weaker and older animals cannot travel long distances and struggle to keep up with the herd. In some families, the women take charge of these weaker animals, walking slower during the journey to accommodate them. This is how Naserian* and her sister-in-law ended up hundreds of miles away from home, in the forest, caring for the weak cattle. 

“It is normal for us to take the old animals so they do not slow down the men and the other cattle. This time, I was with my sister-in-law and two women who are neighbors at home. We had left the children behind with our mother-in-law, who is too old to join us on such trips. We had been in the forest for two months when I started getting sick.”

— Naserian

At first, Naserian did not think much of it; she thought she was tired from all the daily walking they had to do. However, she was wrong and her condition deteriorated rapidly over the next three weeks. 

“It started with a fever; I shivered despite being hot outside. Sometimes I would get very confused, not understanding my surroundings. Then the pain started; I was in pain all over my body. After a few days, I asked my sister-in-law to inform my husband that I was very sick.”

— Naserian

“I didn’t know what to do. I was crying so hard! Every year during the drought, we have made these kinds of trips and stayed for months in forests and never once did we fall sick. I did not understand why this was happening and was more stressed because we were in the middle of nowhere without access to transport or healthcare. Naserian and I don’t have mobile phones, but one of the other women does. I borrowed her phone to call home; sadly, there was no mobile network or connection. Understanding the urgency of the matter, I did something I have never done before; I pulled up my skirt and climbed a tree!”

— Sister-In-Law

Naserian’s Sister-In-Law

Naserian’s sister-in-law could call from the top of the tree. The connection was weak, but she got through to her brother-in-law and informed him that his wife was sick and they needed urgent help.

“I thought I was dreaming when I saw my husband. He carried me on his back and started walking. With no transportation where we were, it took us two days to get home. Once at home, the local clinic asked my husband to rush me to a big hospital quickly, or I would die.”

— Naserian

Naserian’s husband got a car that brought them to Karatu, not knowing what hospital they were going to. Once they arrived, he asked a stranger who said:

“There is only one place I can recommend, FAME.”

— Random Stranger in Karatu

At FAME, Naserian was received promptly and admitted to the inpatient ward. She was diagnosed with cerebral malaria, a severe complication requiring immediate medical attention and hospitalization. Naserian was lucky to get to FAME in time. She was put on medication immediately.

“When I regained consciousness, I was in a hospital bed at FAME. I couldn’t get up; my head was so heavy! I was scared, but my sister-in-law was by my side. The doctor said I had malaria affecting my brain.”

— Naserian

“We had spent the last two months sleeping in the open forest by Lake Eyasi and I think this may have been where Naserian got malaria from.”

— Sister-In-Law

Naserian would end up spending two weeks at FAME. 

“I would spend my days at her bedside crying! I was so sad. Naserian is my sister. We are married to brothers. We do everything together, including living in the same compound. Our children are more siblings than cousins. I could not imagine my life without her. Sometimes I would be in the nurses’ station in the inpatient ward and just cry and cry! The nurses would console and comfort me despite my being disruptive [laughs]! I think they saw how heartbroken I was and were kind to me.”

— Sister-In-Law

“The service at FAME was good. The nurses were always available and took great care of me and I am forever thankful to the stranger who directed us here. I am happy to be healthy and returning home to my children and as it’s raining now, the cattle have much to eat and I don’t have to return to the forest.”

— Naserian

*The patient's name has been changed to protect her privacy and permission was secured to share their story. The quotes have been translated from Maasai to English.

A Dedicated Father Ensures the Safe Delivery of His Twins

New dad, James, poses with his twins at FAME's Maternity Ward.

FAME's Nurse, Nuru, shows James how to hold the twins. "It's so hard to hold both at the same time, but I'm learning!"

"My name is James* and my wife is Lucy*. We live in Babati, a town 100 miles from FAME. We have one child, a five-year-old daughter. Two years ago, our second child, a boy, died two days after birth.

It was devastating. Nobody told us what went wrong. One minute we had a healthy child; the next, he was gone. 

When Lucy fell ill last year, the hospital told her she was pregnant with twins and thus considered a high-risk pregnancy. I immediately knew I had to find my wife the best possible maternal healthcare and save my children's lives, especially due to our previous experience where she did not feel supported during her second pregnancy and the resulting child’s death after birth.  

I asked around our town and people kept mentioning this hospital called FAME. However, it was 100 miles away from us, one way. I asked how they could travel such long distances for healthcare, but they assured me the trip was worth it. So I brought my wife to FAME for her first prenatal class.  

At FAME, we encountered compassionate staff at the Reproductive Child and Health (RCH) clinic who shared my unwavering commitment to Lucy and the unborn twins' well-being. They made comprehensive care plans, ensuring every step was taken to safeguard my wife's and my children's health. I could see Lucy much happier and hopeful for the first time since she became pregnant.  

“Since ours was a high-risk pregnancy, we had to visit the RCH clinic every month. Lucy asked if we could do the prenatal classes at a hospital close to home and deliver at FAME since making the trip every month was expensive and time-consuming. I disagreed. I vowed to ensure my wife would receive the best possible maternal health care, no matter the distance. Moreover, the hospitals close to us did not have the specialized medical facilities needed for a high-risk pregnancy, nor could they care for the twins should they be born prematurely, which is more likely with twin pregnancies.”

— James

I have a car, so that was half the problem solved. However, I am a farmer and this was during the planting season, which meant I could not afford to lose any time if I wanted the farm to be ready by the time the rains came. Fuel is also quite expensive, forcing us to dig into our savings. Still, all these were a small price to pay for a healthy wife and children. 

I am delighted that everything went well and we got two healthy boys. I am happy we decided to come here since Lucy required a C-Section to deliver the twins, complicating the birth even further. 

Many of my relatives have twins, so I am excited to also brag about having a set of my own! The boys are heavy and I still haven't learned how to hold both comfortably, but I am sure together with my wife, we will be able to handle this as we have overcome much greater challenges."

James's story is a story of a father's boundless love. His unwavering dedication, financial sacrifices and continuous emotional support embody the essence of true fatherhood. He epitomizes the selfless nature of a father who, without hesitation, sacrifices everything for the happiness and well-being of his family.

A Father Fights for His Baby Girl

Abdalla cradles his six-month-old daughter. "She is my everything."

“My name is Abdalla* and my daughter is 6 months old. She is my first child. She suddenly got ill at night, vomiting every time she breastfed and had diarrhea that would not stop. 

We took her to the local clinic, where they gave her some medicine which did not help. The doctors ordered an ultrasound, but after we got the results, they were all busy with other patients and asked us to wait until they were done. But my daughter was getting worse, so I asked if they could treat this as an emergency, quickly interpret the ultrasound results and direct us on the way forward, but they said they were many other sick people and we had to wait our turn. 

I knew I had to do something, or my child would die. I forcibly discharged my daughter from the local clinic. The doctor was apologetic and asked me to stay, but they were overwhelmed and could not serve everyone promptly. 

I brought my daughter to FAME, where her case was immediately treated as an emergency as it was clear that she was very ill. We had four doctors consulting on her case and I was grateful for this as it showed the seriousness with which they took her condition. 

The doctors decided that she needed emergency surgery and the surgeon sat with us, explaining how this condition threatened her life and the need for operation. My wife and I decided to follow his advice and my daughter has since recovered and is back to her usual self."

“As I grow in my role as a father, I am more aware of the importance of being heavily involved in my daughter’s life. In just six months, I can see how my presence and involvement in all aspects of her life have positively aided her development and well-being.

On this Father’s Day, I advise every father to become involved in their children’s lives. Don’t just leave everything to Mama!”

— Abdalla

*The patients' names have been changed to protect their privacy and permission was secured to share their story. The quotes from the first interview have been translated from Swahili to English. The second Interview was conducted in English. 

Laizer (right) poses with his brother (left).

Laizer

The legend goes that a young boy was carrying his disabled brother on his back when someone asked him if it was hard, to which he replied, “He ain't heavy, he's my brother.” This quote has often been used to show a deeper meaning of unconditional love, support and selflessness within the context of brotherhood. This week, we met a former FAME patient whose story reminded us of this quote. A brother goes out of his way to save his brother's life. 

Laizer* is 13 years old. A few months ago, he got a small pimple on his leg, which he didn't tell anyone about as it was small and he thought it would go away after a few days. However, the pimple kept growing. 

“The pimple kept growing and became very painful, so I had to stop attending school. The school was a long walk away and I couldn’t walk long because of the pain. Also, the area where the school is located is very cold and this caused the pimple to hurt even more. So I had to stay home. I missed my friends terribly!”

— Laizer

Laizer’s brother took him to a local dispensary, where the doctor diagnosed him with tetanus, saying a rusted nail must have grazed him. He then gave Laizer a tetanus injection. This did not work. This is when Laizer’s mother called the local herbalist and sought his advice since modern medicine had failed. 

“My mother called the local herbalist, who came and looked at Laizer’s leg. He said the pimple was easy to treat; he just had to cut it off. I did not agree with this, but taking Laizer to the hospital would be very expensive as the nearest hospital is miles away and this local herbalist was quite cheap. He was only asking for a female cow as payment and since we have many cows, that was not a problem; this was cheaper for us than a hospital. The herbalist asked us to look for the fattest goat we could find and roast it very hard for Laizer. He said that he should eat this to recover faster. But Laizer was very sick and unable to eat anything, so the herbalist ate all the meat. I don’t believe he wanted that goat for Laizer; he wanted it all for himself! I’m still angry about that!”

— Laizer's Brother

After the herbalist’s intervention, Laizer dealt with an open wound that quickly became infected and septic. In the beginning, the neighbors would visit and help take care of Laizer or just visit to see how he was doing, but the wound became more infected and started to smell and nobody wanted to come close to their homestead. 

“Everyone deserted us. Nobody wanted to be around Laizer. His wound was very smelly and had small insects in it. I took care of him myself. I made sure to give him a sponge bath and try to make him eat something. Every day I stayed with him, day and night, I could see his condition deteriorating. That’s when I decided to bring him to FAME, a hospital I had known about for a while. The herbalist kept telling us to give it more time and that he would heal soon, but I could already see there was no chance of that happening.”

— Laizer's Brother

When Laizer’s brother decided to bring him to FAME, he faced a great challenge. Their village is an hour's walk on a dirt, bumpy road to the bus stop and other cars. No cars could venture to their village. So he had to find a way to get Laizer to the bus stage, where he had paid a man 250,000 TZS ($110) to bring Laizer to FAME in his car. The driver charged almost double his usual price because of Laizer's condition.

Laizer’s brother explains how he made a stretcher using two walking sticks and cowhide to carry his brother to the bus stop, an hour's walk away.

“When I decided to bring him to FAME, I asked some neighbors to help me carry him, but they refused. They couldn’t stand the smell and those that could were scared of catching what he had. So I said okay. I’ll carry him myself. I got cow skin and attached it to two sticks such that he could lie down and I could prop him over my shoulder [a makeshift stretcher]. He was very heavy, but I figured if I kept walking and taking short breaks, I might be able to get him to the car waiting for us.”

— Laizer's Brother

When Laizer’s brother left the homestead with his brother on his shoulders and walked a few steps, some village boys ran over to help him. 

“They just came and didn’t say anything. They held the sides of the cow skin and started walking in silence. I was very upset that they had refused to help at first, but I also knew that Laizer did not have much time and with their help, I would get him there faster. So I accepted the help.”

— Laizer's Brother

They got Laizer to the stage, where they found the car he had paid waiting to bring them to FAME. Then they started the four-hour journey. 

“Laizer kept getting sicker and sicker and at some point, I thought he might not make it to FAME. The driver sensed this and drove faster.”

— Laizer's Brother

Once at FAME, Laizer was rushed to the emergency room. He would end up spending four months in the inpatient ward. He had multiple surgeries to save his leg. His brother stayed by his side the whole time. 

He is now healthy and back to his usual self. However, his brother is still cautious.

“He wants to take the cows out to graze just like the old days and I know he can, but I’m too scared. So I tell him to only look after a few cows closer to the home. I don’t want to let him out of my sight in case he gets sick again.”

— Laizer's Brother

Laizer’s brother

Laizer’s brother is grateful for the help they received at FAME.

“When we arrived at FAME, the doctors ran to him and started helping him. They didn’t care about the smell or his condition. They just wanted to make him better. I thank God for FAME and pray that you keep helping people in our community. Laizer was here for a long time, but the price was affordable. I was surprised. I wish I had brought him earlier.”

— Laizer's Brother

“I’m happy you saved my brother; he’s my only brother. Maasai families are usually quite big, but in our case, it’s just the two of us. He is 28 years younger than me, but he’s my best friend and I could not imagine life without him.”

— Laizer's Brother

“Thank you, FAME, for helping me, making me okay and healing my leg. I am stronger now and will return to school soon.”

— Laizer

The patient's name has been changed to protect his privacy and permission was secured to share their story. The quotes have been translated from Maasai to English.

Namelok

Namelok* sits at FAME’s inpatient ward in a reflective mood. She has been discharged and is getting ready to go home after being admitted for three days. At 50, she was diagnosed with a condition she knew little about, type 1 diabetes, a chronic, life-altering disease where the pancreas does not make insulin. This disease is uncommon in people in her age group, as it usually develops in children, teens and young adults (CDC).

Namelok had started getting sickly about three years ago. She visited her local hospital, where she was diagnosed with gastroenteritis, an illness triggered by the infection and inflammation of the digestive system. She has been taking medicine for this on and off for the past three years. However, her condition had deteriorated fast in the last two weeks. She had pain and tingling in her legs and her stomach hurt. She was also very weak from her significant weight loss; more concerning, she had, in her own words, “turned blind.” 

“I was in a lot of pain. I didn’t know what was happening to me. I was slipping in and out of consciousness all the time. My eyes did not work anymore; all I saw was darkness. My brother and daughter carried me to the bus station, where we took a bus to FAME. However, the journey was long and I kept getting sicker and sicker. The bus was hot and overcrowded. In the evening, we reached a town 30 miles from FAME, where we had to change buses. I was too sick and tired to continue, so we looked for a place to sleep and continued the journey the next morning.”

— Namelok

When they arrived at FAME, Namelok was quickly received and admitted. It was clear to all that this was a dire situation. After laboratory tests, Namelok was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Her blood sugar was five times higher than normal. She was going through diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a serious life-threatening complication of diabetes when there isn't enough insulin being made in the body. The doctors worked swiftly and promptly to stabilize her condition and start her on insulin therapy. They continued to monitor her closely and regularly assessed her vitals. 

“I was sad when they told me I had type 1 diabetes. When the doctors explained what it was and that I would have to give myself injections daily, I told them I think I might have the same disease my son has.”

— Namelok

As it turns out, Namelok’s 18-year-old son is also a type 1 diabetic and has been since he was diagnosed at 14. He receives his insulin from a local hospital close to home and is doing well.

Namelok’s daughter (right) poses with her mother.

“I knew my son had a disease, but I didn’t know the name or what it was. I just knew that he had to give himself injections every day. When the doctor diagnosed him, he was old enough to be shown how to do the injections, so I never had to do them and since he is a responsible boy, I just left him to it.”

— Namelok

The FAME medical staff provided invaluable comprehensive diabetes education to Namelok. This included information about the disease, its management, insulin administration and blood sugar monitoring techniques and how to recognize signs of low and high blood sugar.

“I appreciate all the care and diabetes education I have received from the doctors and nurses, all of which I did not know and was not told when my son was diagnosed. They patiently answered all my questions. This has given me the confidence to face this disease.”

— Namelok

In addition to the diabetes education she has received at FAME, Namelok takes great comfort because she has close family that understands first-hand what she is going through.  

“I take great comfort in the fact that my son is well-versed in managing his diabetes, which means he is in a position to help me! I think I will be okay.”

— Namelok

For many newly diagnosed patients, the psychological aspect of this disease has as great an impact on them as the physical consequences. Coping with the need for constant self-care, potential lifestyle changes and possible long-term diabetes-related complications can often lead to emotional challenges and family support is crucial. Luckily Namelok has her son and daughter to rely on, who are happy that their mother has finally got the right diagnosis and is much better now than she has been for years! 

“Late diagnosis of diabetes is a big problem in rural areas such as our catchment area. This poses significant challenges to patients’ treatment and prognosis, which causes poorer long-term health outcomes for patients. Delayed treatment increases the risk of complications such as cardiovascular disease, kidney problems, nerve damage and vision loss, which sadly happened in Namelok’s case. There is an urgent need for health education and awareness, where the community and healthcare workers are taught to recognize this disease’s symptoms and risk factors.”

— Dr. Josephat Mtuwa

FAME continues to spread diabetes health education and awareness through its health communication outreach. Every Monday, FAME staff have a one-hour show on a local Karatu radio station where they discuss different medical conditions and the treatment options available at FAME. This year, FAME has covered topics related to diabetes on the radio program, including pregnancy-induced diabetes (gestational diabetes), diabetes symptoms and diabetic foot ulcers.

FAME also holds a diabetes clinic every week on Thursdays where diabetic patients are monitored and counseled while new patients are advised on diabetes management. Dr. Josephat Mtuwa runs this clinic. 

Not to mention FAME’s Annual Diabetes Walk held every year on World Diabetes Day, where FAME staff and local community members participate in a 1.6-mile walk highlighting the importance of exercise in managing and preventing diabetes. FAME offers free diabetes screenings at the end of this walk. 

*The patient's name has been changed to protect her privacy and permission was secured to share her story. The quotes have been translated from Maasai to English.