Nyla T., 1

Nyla is an 8-month-old girl and the first-born child of a single mother. She lives with her mother, grandmother and a cousin in Ung’oma Village near Opar Shopping Centre. Nyla’s mother is unemployed, leaving her grandmother as the household’s main provider. The grandmother relies primarily on small-scale farming and the sale of farm produce to meet the family’s basic needs, making unexpected medical expenses difficult to afford. Nyla developed fever, cough, difficulty in breathing and refusal to breastfeed, which persisted for two days before she was brought to hospital for assessment and treatment. Following clinical evaluation, she was diagnosed with severe pneumonia and admitted for appropriate treatment and close monitoring. The family had learned about Helpster Charity through a neighbour and was grateful for the support provided towards Nyla’s inpatient medical care.

Nyla was diagnosed with severe pneumonia, presenting with fever, cough, difficulty in breathing and poor feeding. At 8 months of age, she requires prompt treatment and close monitoring because infants can deteriorate rapidly. With appropriate antibiotics, supportive care, adequate feeding and monitoring, her prognosis is generally favourable. Without timely treatment, severe pneumonia may progress to respiratory failure, hypoxia, sepsis, dehydration, seizures, organ dysfunction and potentially death.