Merab A., 17

Merab is a 17-year-old school dropout expecting her first child. She lives with her husband’s family, who depend mainly on irregular menial jobs for survival. The limited household income must also support elderly parents, nieces and nephews, and the family frequently struggles to meet basic needs, including food and healthcare. Two days before admission, Merab became increasingly unwell, developing swelling of the legs, marked body weakness, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, painful urination and whitish vaginal discharge. Her symptoms persisted and significantly affected her usual activities and ability to eat, raising concern for complications during pregnancy. Her spouse brought her to the health facility, where she underwent clinical assessment and laboratory investigations. Due to the severity of her symptoms and need for continued treatment and monitoring, she was admitted to the ward. As the family could not afford the medical expenses, her sister sought assistance after a Helpster Charity volunteer informed them about the possibility of receiving support for her treatment.

Merab is quite unwell with severe malaria and a urinary tract infection during pregnancy, requiring inpatient treatment and close maternal and fetal monitoring. Severe malaria may cause severe anaemia, hypoglycaemia, organ dysfunction or maternal deterioration, while an untreated UTI may progress to kidney infection or sepsis. Both conditions can increase the risk of fetal distress, impaired fetal growth, preterm labour, low birth weight or fetal loss. With prompt treatment and careful monitoring, the prognosis for both mother and baby is generally favourable.