Hauwa M., 18

Hauwa Mohammed is an 18-year-old girl living with her mother and five siblings along Lagos Street, Maiduguri. She supports her family by selling peanuts and sewing caps. Due to poverty, she did not attend school. Her widowed mother is unemployed, and the family depends mainly on their elder brother, who earns a living riding a keke. Despite these challenges, Hauwa remains hopeful about the future and dreams of getting married, becoming a good housewife, and raising educated children. She gradually developed persistent high fever, weakness, dizziness, severe headaches, chills, and sweating. This was followed by burning abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and painful skin rashes and sores. As her condition worsened, she became frail, exhausted, and unable to carry out daily activities. Due to the severity of her illness and financial constraints, she was taken to Nakowa Hospital, where she was admitted under the Helpster Charity Program.

Hauwa was admitted in a critical condition and received comprehensive medical care after tests confirmed malaria, enteric fever, and H. pylori infection. She was treated with antimalarial drugs, antibiotics, ulcer medications, intravenous fluids, and supportive care, leading to a steady improvement in her condition. Her fever subsided, abdominal pain and vomiting resolved, and she regained her strength before being discharged on 22nd January. Hauwa and her family sincerely thank Helpster Charity for fully covering her medical expenses and ensuring she received the lifesaving treatment she needed, giving them renewed hope for the future.

With prompt and appropriate medical treatment, Hauwa’s overall prognosis is guarded but hopeful. Following hospital admission, close monitoring, effective medications, adequate hydration, nutritional support, and proper wound care, her fever is expected to resolve gradually, her strength to return, and her appetite to improve. As treatment progresses, her abdominal pain, vomiting, and bowel symptoms should subside, allowing healing of the stomach lining and restoration of normal digestion. The skin lesions are likely to heal with proper antibiotics, hygiene, and supportive care, reducing pain and preventing long-term scarring or complications. However, because these illnesses occurred together and were worsened by prolonged weakness, poor nutrition, and delayed access to care, her recovery may be slow and will require sustained follow-up, rest, and continued support. With full adherence to treatment and ongoing social and charitable assistance, Hauwa has a good chance of making a full recovery and regaining functional independence, but without continued care and improved living conditions, there remains a risk of relapse or complications.