Liz G., 18

Liz is an 18-year-old girl, the second-born in a family of seven children. She was raised by her unemployed mother after the death of their father. Liz dropped out of school in Form Two due to lack of school fees and family financial challenges. Because of poverty, she later got married to a young man from a nearby village. However, her new family also faces financial hardship, forcing Liz and her husband—who is currently unemployed—to depend on her mother-in-law, who survives on casual work. Liz’s own mother has chosen not to be involved in her new family after the early marriage. Liz is pregnant with her first child. Two days before visiting the hospital, she developed leg swelling, weakness, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, painful urination, and whitish vaginal discharge. Her husband brought her to the health facility, where tests were done and doctors recommended admission. Because the family could not afford the medical bills, her husband initially requested to take her home to look for money or transfer her to a public hospital. The facility then informed them about the availability of free medical treatment through Helpster Charity

Liz was admitted to the hospital and received two days of treatment with parenteral (injectable) medications under close medical supervision. Throughout her admission, her condition improved steadily as she responded well to the prescribed treatment. Her symptoms gradually subsided, and after being assessed as clinically stable, she was discharged home on a course of oral medications to complete her treatment. Before discharge, she and her caregiver were counselled on the importance of strict medication adherence, completing the full course of treatment, and seeking medical attention promptly should any concerning symptoms recur. A follow-up phone call to the family after discharge confirmed that Liz was recovering well at home. Her caregiver reported that she was taking her medications as prescribed, had continued to improve, and was doing well, with no new health concerns reported.

While pregnancy -related physiological changes (such as progesterone -induced ureteral dilation and pressure from the uterus) make it easier for bacteria to travel to the kidney. Untreated or improperly management UTIs can lead to serious complication.