Medical Services
No More Malaria for Champa
CBN.com – Kosai and Vanthala live in a small village called Gasaba. They are farm laborers who depend on their daily wages for survival. Their daughter Champa is four years old and stays at her grandma’s during the work-day.
Champa is usually full of energy. She often plays with her neighborhood friends at night. One day Vanthala noticed that Champa had fallen asleep early. She thought that she was worn out from playing, so she didn’t wake her.
The next morning Vanthala noticed that Champa did not wake up easily. Kosai and she were getting ready to go to work, so she hurriedly picked Champa up to get her ready to go. As she held her, she realized that Champa had a high fever, so she decided to stay home and take care of her.
But Kosai insisted on leaving Champa at her grandmother’s place, since they couldn’t afford to lose a day’s wages. Vanthala’s motherly instincts told her she needed to stay home regardless.
Though Vanthala stayed behind she could not do anything to help her daughter feel better. Later that night Champa began to shiver and her temperature shot up once again. Vanthala was worried about her daughter but didn’t know what to do. She wrapped her in a woolen blanket as she put her to sleep.
The next morning Champa was feeling better, so Vanthala agreed to leave her at her grandmother’s place. When they got back from work, she became more worried because the fever had returned. Champa’s condition didn’t improve for two weeks.
Vanthala was afraid because they would have to travel up to 23 km to reach the nearest doctor. The thought of traveling that far with their daughter in this condition was a nightmare. The nearest city was Araku, going there and hiring a vehicle would cost them almost 20 day’s wages. Looking at her daughter she knew that she wouldn’t be able to travel in her condition. Vanthala feared the worst.
About this time, Operation Blessing India organized a medical camp in Gasaba village. OB reaches out to people in the remotest areas like Champa who have no source of medical help, providing them with free medical services.
Vanthala was relieved to hear about the camp and brought Campa for treatment. The OB doctor checked Champa and suggested that a malaria test be done. OB’s mobile laboratory tests showed that Champa had malaria with Vivax. It was crucial that Champa’s case was detected then because it could have led to hemolytic anemia, causing conditions that could lead to death.
She thanked the OBI team for the free medicine for her daughter. She went home assured that her daughter would be completely healed.
Vanthala was very relieved. She said, “Thank you for your timely help in saving my child…”
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