(Photos) Frank updates us on Fridah: Typhoid

This week was busy with Fridah, her guardian and I visiting various health facilities and performing a number of tests on her. We started with Dr. Kennedy’s colleague who provided the consultancy and after taking her specifics such as body weight, blood pressure and so on, made requests for a number of tests to be carried out. We did malaria, typhoid, sickle cell anemia and HIV among others. Most of these tests could not be carried out at the facility and so we had to go to either the Provincial hospital and other private labs in town to perform the tests.

After some minutes wait to hours and even a few days, all test results were finally available today. Fridah turned negative on all tests apart from typhoid which according to the Doctor, was in dangerous high levels within her body system. So serious was it that he started her immediately on treatment using IV and prescribed medication which I bought soon after. This had caused loss of appetite and was responsible for her deteriorating health. He advised all living with her to be tested and especially the person handling her food. It was good that the guardian was present and so I had the Doctor speak to her and advice her over the same. We do provide water purifiers on every distribution so I did not understand how she got the infection however, because she also takes water and food at school, I called the head master of her school and briefed him of the same.The Doctor has advised on nutrition among it being multi vitamins which Fridah should take to help improve her health.