One-year-old Peter has an umbilical hernia - fatty tissue or a part of the bowel poking through near his navel. Umbilical hernia’s are common among children in Uganda as are the life-threatening complications that can occur such as the hernia becoming incarcerated or strangulated. If complications occur emergency surgery needs to be performed but many families such as Peter’s don’t live near any medical facilities that would be able to do such surgery. Surgeons are therefore keen to operate now to remove the risk.
As well as finding vital surgery donations will also be preventing Peter’s mother from getting into debt and further poverty as the cost of the operation is far beyond her means. Donations will cover every aspect of his surgery from the transport to get him to and from the hospital to the medical supplies used throughout the operation.