When Paska’s daughter, Keisi, fell ill with malaria, Paska was frantic with worry. But because of compassionate people like you, Paska could bring Keisi to a Medical Teams clinic. Providers were waiting with open arms to ease Paska’s worry and care for her beloved daughter.

Read on to hear more of Paska and Keisi’s story!

Starting Over in Uganda

Paska, at just 19, is a quiet young woman. But the strength of her love and attachment to her family, especially her daughter, Keisi, is clear. Paska shared her memories of traveling to Uganda from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

“I came from the Congo, and we arrived here in 2008 when I was 5,” Paska explains. “I don’t remember much about Congo because I was a child. We left home because of the constant war and the family members we lost. The journey was very long. I remember feeling like we had spent forever walking. We were picked up by a truck and entered Uganda.”

Paska grew up in a long-term refugee settlement in Uganda. Her life can be challenging now, but she always finds comfort in her family.

Paska says,

“I live with my husband and my daughter. I love them, and they’re my life. I love my mother, too, because she raised me, took care of me and is always there to help me when I need her. My family is the most important to me.”

Though she was young when she left the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Paska knows how dangerous it was for her family there.

She says, “War is a bad thing. I sometimes see people thinking about going back to Congo and when they do, some of them die as soon as they arrive there.”

Finding Medical Teams

When Keisi, her daughter, came down with a high fever, Paska was worried. Keisi has struggled with her health before, and it scares Paska every time she isn’t well.

“Before coming to the clinic, I was worried because Keisi had lost appetite and was constantly crying. She didn’t want anyone else to carry her, so I could hardly do anything else. Her body felt very hot, too. Her temperature just kept on increasing.”

Paska describes how sad her daughter’s illness makes her.

She says,

“I feel very sad each time she’s not well because she is my life.”

It’s difficult for Paska to feel at ease when her daughter is sick. She cannot feel settled until after Keisi has received treatment and she knows she’ll be okay. Paska is so caring for her daughter — she would do anything for her child. That’s why Medical Teams has been such a relief for Paska.

“I got to know about Medical Teams when we moved to Kyangwali settlement,” Paska shares. “I started going to the health facility, and I was told all services were free because of Medical Teams. Usually when I bring Keisi to the facility, she is assessed by a doctor, they take her blood sample to do a test and let me know what the problem is.”

Praying for Keisi’s recovery

This trip to the clinic was no different. Keisi had malaria again, a dangerous illness for children — and one that can be hard to avoid in Uganda.

“Keisi often has malaria. When we go to the clinic, doctor first puts a tablet inside Keisi’s rectum to cool down her temperature. She also gets an injection, and they give me some tablets to continue giving her. Most times we get admitted for at least a day for Keisi to be monitored. After the doctor gave Keisi some treatment, I was relieved because I know every time the doctor here treats my daughter, she recovers quickly. Her temperature reduced and she started eating some little food.”

Medical Teams jumped into action to treat Keisi. After her rapid malaria test confirmed that she had malaria, she was quickly given anti-malarial medication. Soon, she was able to eat again. Paska was relieved.

She’d been at the Medical Teams facility since midday and was not willing to go anywhere else until her child received the help she needed. By the time night fell, Keisi’s temperature had gone down. Providers helped Paska monitor her daughter to make sure she was well again before they went home.

The risk of malaria is high in settlements like Kyangwali. When people seeking refuge — like Paska’s family — arrive in the settlement, they’re given a small plot of land to build their house. Most people plant maize, a kind of corn, and beans around their houses. They’re important crops that help people survive. But they also are the kind of plant that provides the cover mosquitoes use to breed. Then, mosquitoes bite people, and spread malaria. Prevention measures can be taken, but Medical Teams treats thousands of children like Keisi for malaria every year.

Hope for the future

“My life is easier because of the services provided by Medical Teams,” Paska says gratefully. “The free services enable me to save money and use it to buy food at home and anything else we need. Life would be extremely hard because we don’t have money. My daughter falls sick quite often so I wouldn’t have been able to take her to the health facility as frequently as I do now.”

Paska doesn’t take her or her daughter’s health for granted.

She says,

“My biggest joy is when I open my eyes every morning, and I’m still alive. Looking at my daughter fills me with so much joy. Thank you, Medical Teams, for your support to us. May God bless you all.”

Paska stays hopeful, and faithful, as she focuses on the small joys of life. Her hopes for her daughter’s future keep her going.

“I hope that I can work hard and educate my daughter,” Paska shares. “I hope she gets a better life that is full of joy.”

Mothers like Paska

At Medical Teams, we meet mothers like Paska every day. They worry, hope, and pray for their children just like a mother you know would. Her devotion to her daughter is heartwarming. But without medical care, their lives would be far more difficult.

If you’d like to help a mother and child like Paska and Keisi, consider joining The Pulse! Our community of monthly givers makes a difference day in and day out in the lives of mothers and children around the world.