Shamima A., 9

Shamima Akter is a bright 9-year-old Rohingya girl, a third-grade student and the eldest of four sisters, who dreams of becoming a teacher. She lives with her family in a makeshift shelter in Camp 9, Balukhali, where her father works as a daily labourer and the family survives on approximately USD 16 per month, leaving them unable to afford the medical expenses for her ongoing treatment. Her uncle learned about Helpster Charity through volunteer Md Younus, and the family sought assistance after Shamima experienced recurrent tonsillitis for about one year, with severe throat pain, swollen tonsils, and difficulty swallowing. Without appropriate treatment, the recurrent condition may continue to cause painful episodes and swallowing difficulties, affecting her daily activities, nutrition, and schooling. Helpster Charity fully supported her treatment expenses so that she could receive the necessary medical care and have a better chance of returning to her normal activities.

According to the treating doctors, immediate hospitalization and clinical and laboratory investigations are recommended to assess and stabilize Shamima’s condition before definitive treatment. Once adequately stabilized, adenotonsillectomy under anesthesia is planned to address her recurrent tonsillar condition. With appropriate surgical treatment and follow-up, her recurrent throat symptoms, tonsillar swelling, and difficulty swallowing are expected to improve, supporting better nutrition, daily activities, and school attendance. If left untreated, recurrent tonsillitis may continue to cause painful episodes and swallowing difficulties, potentially affecting her overall well-being and daily functioning.