What We Do
Vumi's diary
|
We have been assisting Vumi with treatment for cancer since meeting her in June 2007, and would like to continue doing so. It is so hard for the albino community here in Mwanza - only 2 degrees away from the equator, the sun shows no mercy. Vumi has braved previous treatment for her tumour, paid for by Bridge2Aid supporters, and now needs further treatment. While she is scared, Vumi knows it is her only hope. If you can contribute any amount towards the ongoing costs* for Vumi's treatment, please donate on our Justgiving page by clicking HERE, and write FOR VUMI in the message line. Thank you so much. Vumi's Diary 1 June 2007
| |
One lady we saw at Bukumbi has some serious problems with the skin on her face, she is an albino lady called Vumi and her skin is in a very bad state. Dr Julius thinks that it is probably cancerous so is referring her to the hospital in town who will then refer her onto specialist in Dar es Salaam for assessment and any possible treatment. It must be so hard for the albino community here being only 2 degrees away from the equator, the sun shows no mercy. Although they cover up with head scarves and hats they are still such a vulnerable community. We will closely monitor what progress she makes.
8 June 2007Vumi has been to the government hospital in Mwanza and was seen by the dermatologist. She was prescribed some cream (unfortunately one which we can’t get in town) and has an appointment to go back this week for a biopsy. Although she is scared and unsure of what the future holds for her, she is relieved that at last something is happening. 14 August 2007Vumi's (the lady with the possible cancer on her face) condition has worsened since I last saw her and the area on her face that is affected has grown in size. She has already been referred to the hospital but they sent her away again and she isn’t in a position to fight for herself and peruse the necessary treatment. Therefore this week John is going to take her back and try to get her a referral to Dar es Salaam for a full review. |
4 September 2007
|
Vumi is now travelling with an escort to the National Centre for cancer treatment in Dar es Salaam. Before she left Mwanza she was examined by Dr Ian Wilson and the current locum dentist Dr Ian Redfearn. They were shocked to see that the tumour had been left for so long, it is now the size of a tennis ball and aggressively eating into her cheek. Vumi first saw a doctor for the tumour 3 years ago and was prescribed some cream which helped initially. However, the combination of a lack of medical facilities, her passive attitude towards her illness and frustrating bureaucracy has delayed intervention for so long that we are not sure now what the future holds for her. She has seen both her parents suffer and die from the same carcinoma so knows all too well how horrific the cancer becomes as it progresses. We will be in touch with the Commissioner for Social Welfare in Dar es Salaam, under whose care she will be when she is in Dar, to find out what progress has been made.
19 September 2007Vumi is now in hospital in Dar and has had a biopsy taken and waiting for results and then she will probably have radiation therapy. We have been told that social welfare in Dar are looking after her well and she is being fed and cared for , which is great to hear. |
13 October 2007
After her treatment in Dar es Salaam it was a joy to see Vumi back home at Bukumbi on our visit today, she was happy to be home with her friends. She said that, apart from the treatment, which was horrible, she had enjoyed her time in Dar es Salaam and made some friends there, she proudly showed us some pictures of her at Muhumbili Hospital. She said that there were times that the treatment had made her very sick and unable to eat, but the staff had taken good care of her and were very kind. She has been advised to be more vigilant with taking care of her skin by covering herself up in the strong sunshine, we will try to remind her of the importance of this when we visit Bukumbi. Although we have yet to receive the official report from the hospital the wound has healed since we last saw her in September, and she is now under the care of Dr Julius at Bukumbi, she will return to Dar es Salaam for a review after 3 months. |
15 January 2008
As we entered Bukumbi we met Vumi wearing a very distinctive brown hairpiece, looking very different from usual. She was in good spirits as we greeted her and we were pleased to see that externally at least her wound site was looking well having healed over since her visit to Dar es Salaam back in October last year, inside however she was getting some leakage from the wound and pain in her teeth. Her 3 monthly check-up is due in Dar es Salaam so we have obtained a letter of referral from Dr Julius at Bukumbi Care Centre and permission from the Regional Welfare Officer to send Vumi back to Dar es Salaam with an escort for assessment of her progress so far. We are so pleased to see Vumi in good health again, especially considering her poor prognosis back in June last year.
12 February 2008
Vumi returned from Dar es Salaam after a much quicker visit than before and with good news, she reported that the doctors were pleased with her progress and healing since her treatment in October. The external wound has healed remarkably well and she was given medication for the pain and internal leakage that she was experiencing from the wound. She is also under strict instructions to keep covered up from the scorching sun, something most Albino’s know but few adhere to. Her next appointment to Dar will take place in July when once again Bridge2Aid will assist with the travel costs.
Vumi’s friend at Bukumbi and fellow albino, Agnes has a 2 year old albino daughter called Maisha who during one of our recent visits scurried off to get her hat as soon as she saw Sister Anna coming, knowing that she would be told off for not wearing her protective hat. Often members of the albino community are provided with protective clothing such as hats, scarves and sun glasses or even sun screens, but these things get stolen, lost or sold as time passes.
The albino community face a challenge even more life threatening than skin cancer at the moment. Although it is hard for our western mindsets to understand, witchcraft is still an accepted practice in Tanzania and one which is accessed by both rural and professional communities. A belief has recently come to our attention is that when prospecting for gold your chances are improved if you have with you body parts and blood from an albino person. This was manifest recently in the brutal murder of an 8 year old albino girl in the Misungwi district, the same district that Bukumbi Care Centre is part of. It is shocking to think that such practices are being carried out, and that this vulnerable community have yet another challenge to contend with.
26 March 2009
Vumi has just returned from another appointment in Dar es Salaam which was brought forward due to her experiencing discomfort and fluid leaking from the wound inside her mouth. She came back from Dar with more medicine and has been given another appointment for June when she thinks she will be given radiation therapy. Unfortunately the medicine that she was given was only sufficient for a short period and is not available in Tanzania, so we are currently trying to source more from Kenya.
11 August 2009
The wound on Vumi’s face responded well to the cream which we were able to purchase (a tiny tube for £45!) and Dr Julius was pleased with her progress. Her next trip to Dar took place in June and lasted 2 months, this time she was given radiotherapy followed by excision of the ulcer, she returned to Bukumbi last week with the local clinic staff continuing to dress the wound. Dr Amol of Bugando Medical Centre, a maxillofacial surgeon, kindly offered to take a look at the wound and said that although it was healing well she needed further surgery to correct the contracting skin from distorting the right eye and corner of her mouth. He was also concerned about other ulcers on her face which needed to be removed. We will now talk with Mr Bundala and the government Social Welfare representatives to obtain their permission for the surgery to go ahead here in Mwanza.
In the meantime we have purchased some eye drops to help with soreness from the wound dragging her eye downwards, paraffin gauze to improve the wound dressings, and long sleeve shirts and socks to try to protect her skin from the unforgiving sun (and lots of firm encouragement to wear them!).
February 2010
Since last August Vumi had undergone the opertion to remove the ulcers from her face. The operation was successful and her wound has healed well. She is at the moment in Dar es Salaam at the cancer hospital for her check up. She has been very good at covering up her amrs and wearing her hat. She should return from Dar this week.
26th March 2010
Vumi returned from Dar es Salaam last week after being there for almost 2 months. Vumi
has been suffering again from pain in her face from the operation last year. Unfortunately the "albino" doctor was not present, so she had to wait until he returned and then it was decided that she needed another operation, but she was anemic so she had to wait 2 weeks to see if there was improvement. However she was still anemeic so she had to wait again and it was eventually decided that she return to Mwanza and wait 3 months, take more medicine to be fit enough for the operation. She is still in pain and has pain killers. Dr Julius the centre's clinical officer is kepping an eye on her. In June Vumi will have another long trip to Dar es Salaam to get the help she needs.