A September Update from Healing Faith Uganda
Four and a half years ago, a mother brought her little one to one of our malaria centers in Uganda. Lamu was just a year and a half old. The test came back positive, and the moment was filled with fear, uncertainty, and a thin thread of hope. Lamu received lifesaving treatment, and the family went home.
Recently, Lamu came back to the same center. Lamu is six years old now and was once again receiving treatment for malaria. But something was different this time. Lamu’s mother had been educated by our partner in Uganda, Healing Faith, about malaria, so she knew the signs and symptoms.
Think about what that means. Years ago, Healing Faith’s team taught her how malaria spreads and what it looks like in a child. That lesson did not end the day it was given. It went home with her, and it was ready when Lamu needed it again.
There is more to this story. Lamu’s mother is deaf. Jolly Joe, one of Healing Faith’s dedicated nurses, noticed this and took it upon himself to learn sign language. Now he can communicate with her directly, building the kind of clear communication, trust, and compassionate care that makes healing possible. He saw a barrier, and he chose to break it.
Treating malaria well takes more than medicine. A parent must understand how the treatment works, what to watch for at home, and when to come back, and all of that depends on clear communication. Jolly Joe’s extra effort means Lamu’s mother is a full partner in her child’s care.
