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Rekindling Trust in Care at FAME Hospital
My first stop was a hospital in Moshi (140 miles from FAME), where I struggled through countless appointments. I paid high fees, yet the treatment didn’t help. Feeling discouraged, I gave up on seeking help. For weeks I stayed home until one day I mustered the courage to undergo more tests. As I sat in the waiting room listening to a health seminar on the radio, the speaker listed harsh side effects of treatment, such as mouth sores and hair loss. My heart pounded, and I felt God’s voice telling me to leave. So, I got up and went home, unsure of where to turn next.
A few days later I crossed paths with a stranger who found me in despair and handed me a slip of paper with a doctor’s phone number. “Call him,” they urged. “He might be able to help you.” Though skeptical, I dialed the number. When I finally met the doctor, he prescribed medication. From March of that year until the following June, a total of fourteen months, I took it. During that time, I experienced what I can only describe as divine intervention, as my leg—which had hurt endlessly—was healed.
Life took another unexpected turn when I was diagnosed with HIV. This time I began treatment at a hospital in Arusha (88 miles from FAME). The doctors there recommended that I get screened for cervical cancer, even though I was on HIV medication. I agreed and completed the tests. When the clinic called to say they’d seen signs of cervical cancer, I remained calm. I told the nurse, “I will come in at any time,” though inside I wasn’t so confident about whether it would be worth it.
Yesterday, as I tuned into FM radio, the announcer urged listeners with my condition to visit two hospitals. The suggestion hit me hard—I remembered the bills and empty promises I had experienced before, and I felt discouraged all over again. Then came the life changing moment when the announcer mentioned FAME, a place offering free cervical cancer screening.
I had never heard of FAME before, but the idea of help without cost felt like a lifeline. Early this morning I boarded a bus bound for Karatu town. When I arrived, I asked a passerby for directions and took a motorcycle taxi to FAME Hospital. When I walked in, I was met with warm smiles and genuine concern—so different from my previous experiences.
At FAME, the testing process was very thorough, and that was when I knew I could trust this hospital. As I sit here, I can only be thankful that I found this place and got tested. I am looking forward to hearing the results from the cervical cancer screening, and I hope to continue receiving great care here.