FAME's Community in Rural Tanzania: As Told by a Patient*
Mzee Lemama
“My name is Lemama** and I am 62 years old. Six years ago, I was involved in a horrible road accident that left me with a huge wound on my right leg. I was rushed to a local hospital, where I spent 90 days as the doctors worked to save my leg. Finally, they told me that since I was not diabetic and yet the wound on my leg kept getting worse, they had no choice but to amputate my leg above the knee.
I had sold everything to be able to afford my medical bills. I sold a piece of land I inherited from my father that was to go to my sons; I sold my cows and my goats. A leg amputation would significantly impact my ability to earn a living and support myself and my family, as I often rely on manual labor for my livelihood. It would resort to financial hardship until my death.
Scared, I asked the doctors to give me a few days to think about it. They warned me that delayed amputation could lead to further complications. I talked to my wife about it and she suggested going to Arusha, 90 miles away, for a second opinion. But I couldn’t afford it.
The local chairman heard about my situation and gifted me some money, but I needed more to cover my expenses to Arusha. So, I started looking for a hospital close to me and that’s when I learned about FAME. At this point, I felt hopeless and struggled to see a positive future.
When I got to FAME and saw the doctor, I cried. I asked him to save my leg. After much research and consultation with his colleagues, he told me that it was possible to save the leg by doing skin grafting [skin grafting is a surgical procedure in which skin is removed from one part of the body and transplanted to another area, typically to repair a wound. In Lemama’s case, the skin was grafted from his thighs]. I saw the hand of God through FAME that day.
After the successful operation, it was a long road to recovery, but I didn’t mind because I got to keep my leg and FAME was with me all the way. FAME’s doctors, nurses and support staff showed me care and compassion every time I came for a check-up.”
“FAME continues to play a vital role in improving the quality of life in this community. It has made us self-sufficient; we don’t have to rely on hospitals miles away when we need critical healthcare. With FAME in reach of where I live, my community has experienced improved health outcomes and fewer illnesses and deaths that can be prevented.”
"I am so grateful to FAME for all you’ve done and continue to do for our community. Your hard work and dedication make a difference in many people's lives! Thank You.”
* The interview has been translated from Kiswahili to English.
**The patient’s name has been changed to protect their privacy.
Mzee Lemama’s joy was clear during the interview!