Miriam W., 15

Miriam is a determined 15-year-old Grade Seven pupil and the eldest of three children. She dreams of becoming a nurse. Both parents have mental health or cognitive difficulties that limit their ability to secure steady work. Her father relies on begging, receiving about KSh 500 monthly. The family often goes hungry and lives in a one-room mud house without electricity. They walk over 30 minutes to fetch water from a well. Miriam was admitted after four days of high fever, chills, severe headache, weakness, poor appetite, occasional vomiting, dizziness and fatigue. Her worsening illness disrupted her daily activities. Following assessment and investigations, she was diagnosed with severe malaria, septicaemia and moderate anaemia. She required urgent inpatient treatment with antimalarial medication, antibiotics, supportive care and close monitoring. Unable to afford treatment, her family was referred by the hospital in-charge to Helpster Charity for financial assistance.

With prompt and appropriate medical treatment. She would require urgent hospital admission for intravenous antimalarial medication, broad-spectrum antibiotics to treat the bloodstream infection, intravenous fluids, close monitoring, and treatment for anaemia, which may include blood transfusion if clinically indicated. With timely and comprehensive care, her fever and infection are expected to improve over several days, and her blood levels and strength should gradually recover. Early treatment greatly increases the likelihood of survival and reduces the risk of permanent complications.