Alfiya Kasim

Parent Name: Hawa Mohamed
Child Name: Alfiya Kasim
Age: 3
Gender: Female

Alfiya Kasim comes from a place called Kemise 325 km from Addis Ababa Capital of Ethiopia. Alfiya’s mother first noticed that her daughter stomach has swollen thus took her to the health center, they told her there is something wrong in her liver. Then referred her to Dessie Hospital there they told her it is not her liver but they suspect problem on the kidney probably cancer called Willmis Tumor. They told her she needs to go to Addis Ababa for treatment and referred her to Tikur Anbessa Hospital.

They come to Addis Ababa with the help of neighbors and family contributing money. Her husband has a job and is paid 5,000 Birr (150 US$) per month with family of seven. They did not have much saving. When they come to Addis they have to stay in a hotel paying 150 Birr (5 US$) per day without including their meal. They stayed at the hotel for 20 days and there were lots of laboratory tests that she had to pay for. She finished all her money and things were getting difficult at this moment. Alfiya had to be admitted to emergency as she got very sick; after her condition got better they told her to follow treatment as an outpatient. She told the doctors that she had to abandon treatment as she has finished her money and has no place to stay. Then they arranged for her to come to TAPCCO. Alfiya was very sick her stomach was very big and she could not sleep and eating properly. She cried a lot then with the help of TAPCCO and the doctors she was able to get treatment. At 5gna Cancer Treatment Center she got Chemo Therapy.

Alfiya swelling was reducing and she was scheduled for surgery and COVID-19 happened and she had to be tested for it. She was asked to wait for three days for the result and Awa was scared for her daughter testing positive so she just dropped everything and went to her home. But she had to be guaranteed for 15 days when she arrived at her home town. She was convinced that Alfiya is now well from her problems. And she said, “I completely forgot her pain and thought she was well, I did not listen to the doctors or other parents, and just left but I could feel that Alfiya is not well, after some days her problem has come back. She started crying and I could see before my eye her stomach is getting bigger. Then I got a call from TAPCCO that she needs to comeback and follow treatment. After the call I came back to Addis and then went to the hospital, this time they told me that the result was negative for COVID-19. She wasted valuable time and made her child suffer for no reason.”

Alfiya had the surgery again waiting for 3 days of COVID-19 test but this time Awa waited patiently for the result. Alfiya now is on monthly follow-up, she has no pain or swelling. She is a happy child.

Awa said, “I was one of a difficult mother, determined not to listen to anyone but myself and my husband, but TAPCCO staff never gave up on my child and me. They kept calling and arranging for her to get well. TAPCCO/ASLAN has provided home for me and my child; they are like family caring for all of us. Thank you for all you have done, may Allah pay you for all your good deeds.”

Medicine taken during treatment