Alex O., 17

Alex is a 17-year-old boy, the youngest in a family of seven, living with his father after losing his mother many years ago. His father survives on casual artisan jobs to provide for the family. Most of Alex’s sisters dropped out of school early and got married due to financial hardship and no longer support the family. His eldest brother, also a school dropout, moved to an urban area with his own family and has not kept in touch. Determined to give Alex a chance, his father struggled to keep him in school, and Alex completed his secondary education in 2025, though he has little hope of joining college due to ongoing financial challenges. Two days before visiting the hospital, Alex began experiencing headache, dizziness, and loss of appetite. His condition worsened, leaving him weak, fatigued, and unable to carry out normal activities, yet he had no money even to buy painkillers. A neighbour who had learned about Helpster Charity during one of the organization’s outreach visits passed by and found Alex lying unwell at home. Recognizing the seriousness of his condition, the neighbour quickly arranged for him to be rushed to the health facility for urgent care.

Alex was admitted to the hospital and received a comprehensive three-day course of treatment for malaria and anaemia under the close care and supervision of the medical team. Throughout his admission, he was closely monitored, and his condition improved steadily each day as he responded well to the prescribed treatment. His fever subsided, his strength gradually returned, and his overall clinical condition became stable. After demonstrating satisfactory improvement, he was considered fit for discharge and was sent home with appropriate medications, follow-up instructions, and advice on completing his treatment. A follow-up phone call to the family after discharge confirmed that Alex was continuing to do well at home. His caregiver reported that he had continued to improve, was taking his medications as prescribed, and was steadily regaining his strength, with no new health concerns reported.

Alex was diagnosed with severe anaemia, which explained his weakness, dizziness, and poor appetite. His condition required medical treatment, nutritional support, and close follow-up to restore his blood levels and prevent complications such as heart strain, fainting, or worsening illness. He was started on medication and advised on nutrition and follow-up care. With consistent treatment, Alex is expected to gradually rebuild his blood levels and regain strength over the coming months.