In the US, and other western countries, when a medical emergency happens there’s 911. But what happens when a 6-year-old who lives in a remote rural village do when his foot is caught and churned in a tractor trailer accident? His mother calls her local HDF Health Clinic.
Humaira Fiaz knows
first-hand what it’s like to see your child suffer and have limited access to
medical help. Humaira and her family’s livelihood depend on farming; it is all
her family knows. One day her six year-old son, Usman, accompanied his uncle to
the farm. While sitting on the tractor, Usman’s foot was caught and the flesh
of his foot was separated from the bone.
With help from an
HDF ambulance, Humaira took Usman to Nawaz Sharif Hospital located over an
hour’s drive outside the village. There are no hospitals in the village, but
thanks to donations from the Seattle Network, The Lahore HDF health clinic is
equipped with emergency transport for emergencies like Usman’s when medical
transport to a hospital is needed.
At Nawaz Sharif
Hospital, Usman received treatment and dressing for his wound. Suffering and in
pain, Usman was facing what would no doubt be a difficult post recovery
journey. Post-accident care was crucial for Usman’s healing and to return his
foot to full health so he could walk again.
Unfortunately, due
to his deep wounds, Usman developed an infection days after his accident, and
HDF’s health clinic played a vital role in Usman’s recovery during this phase.
The HDF health clinic is a ten-minute walk from where Usman lives. During the
months of Usman’s treatment, Humaira carried him in her arms as she walked
daily to the HDF clinic. At the Clinic, Usman was able to receive post injury
care on a daily basis. The health clinic team worked relentlessly around the
clock to ensure Usman had a speedy recovery.
“HDF Health Clinic
took immense care of my son. Every day during his recovery we exclusively came
to the health clinic, where the staff monitored his recovery and did his
dressings.” Humaira recalls, “Everyone at the health clinic was so nice and
polite. Everyone at the clinic was concerned about Usman’s well-being and
wanted to see him recover to full health.”
Almost three years
later Usman, now 9 years old, is doing well. Now thanks to continued treatment
from the health clinic almost three years later Usman is able to walk and run
just like other kids his age.
With your help tonight, HDF will continue to
help other children and community members like Usman, who during a traumatic
injury can turn to their trusted team of medical providers—the HDF health
clinic. HDF health clinics serve as an urgent care and general medical care
site for the villagers serving the village population at large. In absence of a
hospital in the village, the community members depend and rely on the HDF
health clinic. Donate today and help children like Usman gain firm footing in
no time!