Elijah M., 7

Elijah is a 7-year-old boy in Grade 2 at a rural primary school. He comes from a family of four and they live in a one-bedroom house with a grass-thatched roof and a cow-dung smeared floor. His father, a small-scale farmer, supports the family by selling green vegetables, earning a maximum profit of around Ksh 2,000 per month. Elijah enjoys playing with children his age, especially during weekends and school holidays. He dreams of becoming a doctor when he grows up. Elijah has been diagnosed with sickle cell disease. Over the past two days, he has been experiencing dizziness, headaches, and abdominal pain. Due to the family’s financial challenges, they were unable to seek medical care immediately. However, the village chief intervened and advised Elijah’s father to take him to the nearest health facility for treatment before his condition worsened.

Elijah, a known sickle cell anemia patient, was experiencing a vaso-occlusive crisis and also had moderate anemia. He received treatment that included antibiotics, rehydration fluids, and medication for sickle cell management. Once his condition stabilized, he was discharged from the hospital to continue treatment at home. During a follow-up call from a Helpster volunteer, his grandmother expressed her gratitude and appreciation for the quality care and support provided by Helpster Charity. he is doing well

A child with severe malaria and sickle cell disease (SCD) who delays seeking medical care is at high risk of serious complications and poor outcomes. Both conditions on their own are life-threatening, and when combined, the prognosis becomes more guarded.