lunedì 5 gennaio 2015

Often the poor cannot have adequate investigations and treatments

Patient with persistent abdominal pains since 2012.
In May 2014 she went to a General Hospital complaining of low abdominal pain and bloody diarrhoea. She was treated for typhoid and amoeba infections, but she didn’t get better.
In September 2014 she was hospitalized again with the previous symptoms. The pain appeared also in the epigastric region and a mass was palpable in the same area. She referred to pass urine mixed with stool. After ultrasound examination she was told to have a problem in the liver.
In November 2014 she was hospitalized in Cottolengo Mission Hospital, and examined with ultrasound.  The report was as follows: “liver normal, splenomegaly. Big hypoechogenic mass at the left aspect of the epigastrium, measuring about 10 cm. Other similar masses are present at the pelvic region. Impression: Abdominal lymphoma.”
A U/S guided needle biopsy was taken and sent for histopathology.
While in hospital she was transfused, because of HB 4.1g/dl. Other lab tests were performed: WBC 6.200/ul, LY 1.700/ul (27.9%), MO 500/ul (8.0%), GRAN 4.000/ul (64.1%). RBC 3.570/ul, PLT 418.000/ul. ESR 89mm/h. HIV= Negative.
The result of the biopsy was: “Suspicion of carcinoma. No lymphoid tissue seen. Sections show tiny fragmented cores composed of glands lined by cells exhibiting mild pleomorphism.”



We confirmed the symptoms of urine mixed with fecal material (recto-vescical-vaginal fistula, through which she is incontinent for urine and stool?).
At the end of December 2014 she was hospitalized again in wasted conditions, pain, and severe anemia. We discovered new palpable masses in pelvic and epigastric region. She was again very anaemic and we transfused, treating her also for pain relief.
She has no money for deeper investigations about the suspected carcinoma in the University of Nairobi, and she has decided to have only palliative care.
She is another case where poverty has hampered much her possibilities of treatment and cure.

Dr Giuseppe Gaido, M.O. in charge,
Medical and clinical Officers,
Nursing Officers,

Cottolengo Mission Hospital


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Chaaria è un sogno da realizzare giorno per giorno.

Un luogo in cui vorrei che tutti i poveri e gli ammalati venissero accolti e curati.

Vorrei poter fare di più per questa gente, che non ha nulla e soffre per malattie facilmente curabili, se solo ci fossero i mezzi.

Vorrei smetterla di dire “vai altrove, perché non possiamo curarti”.

Anche perché andare altrove, qui, vuol dire aggiungere altra fatica, altro sudore, altro dolore, per uomini, donne e bambini che hanno già camminato per giorni interi.

E poi, andare dove?

Gli ospedali pubblici hanno poche medicine, quelli privati sono troppo costosi.

Ecco perché penso, ostinatamente, che il nostro ospedale sia un segno di speranza per questa gente. Non ci sarà tutto, ma facciamo il possibile. Anzi, l’impossibile.

Quello che mi muove, che ci muove, è la carità verso l’altro, verso tutti. Nessuno escluso.

Gesù ci ha detto di essere presenti nel più piccolo e nel più diseredato.

Questo è quello che facciamo, ogni giorno.


Fratel Beppe Gaido


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