READ MOMOH’S STORY

An ambulance pulls up in front of our hospital in Kenema, Sierra Leone. A mother gets out. She is holding a bundle in her arms with one leg hanging down limply. The situation is serious.

Seven-month-old Momoh is unconscious, with a high fever. His skin is extremely pale—a clear sign of anaemia. We admit him straight into our intensive care unit. After a rapid diagnostic test, we know for certain that Momoh has malaria. We immediately administer treatment intravenously: artesunate for his severe malaria, and ibuprofen to bring down his fever.

In my home country of Sierra Leone, malaria is the biggest killer of children under five. While malaria is treatable, early diagnosis and quick treatment are vital to avoid dangerous complications. In severe malaria parasites may attack the brain, causing convulsions, coma, breathing problems, kidney failure, severe anemia and even death.

I talk to Momoh’s mother to reassure her. In these life-threatening situations it’s especially important to strengthen the contact between mother and child.

Hours later, when Momoh is starting to feel better, I carefully hold a cup to his lips and he drinks greedily. He has lost a lot of fluids due to the fever, but he is slowly on the road to recovery.

After a week we can discharge Momoh healthy. This is exactly why I became a nurse. I want to help people and save lives.

Médecins Sans Frontières treats more than two million malaria patients worldwide every year. We are active in more than 70 countries. We depend on donations for this essential work. Thank you so much for helping us to save lives with your support.