Amina is a shy 12-year-old child with a bright smile and a serious condition that requires careful management. A year ago, living in a displacement camp on the outskirts of Baidoa, Amina fell extremely ill with high fever, constant thirst, and weakness. Her mother initially thought it was a bad flu, but Amina only got worse. “She had a fever and suddenly became very sick,” recalls her father, Abdullahi. Desperate for answers, they spent what little money they had at a local pharmacy, where she was given pills and told to drink more water. Nothing helped. In fact, Amina lost weight rapidly and became almost too weak to stand.
Finally, a relative urged them to take Amina to MSF supported Bay Regional Hospital. There, doctors quickly discovered the truth: Amina’s blood sugar was dangerously high. The fever had likely masked the onset of Type 1 diabetes, a life-threatening condition if untreated. “We had no idea what diabetes was,” Abdullahi says. In their home area, chronic illnesses often go undiagnosed; there are no proper laboratories or specialists, and “apart from tablets like Paracetamol, there are no quality medicines available” locally. If not for the MSF team in Baidoa, Amina might have slipped into a diabetic coma. Instead, she received insulin and fluids that same day, and her condition stabilized. “Alhamdulillah, she is better now than she was when I first brought her,” her father says with a relieved smile.
Now, managing diabetes is part of Amina’s new normal and MSF continues to be by her side. Every four to six weeks, Amina and her father travel about two hours by tuk-tuk from their camp to the hospital for a check-up and insulin refills. The trip costs around $2, which, as Abdullahi notes, “is not too much money, Alhamdulillah”. What’s more important is that the care at the end of the ride is free and reliable. Amina has learned how to take her insulin injections and check her blood sugar with the help of MSF nurses. Whenever she experiences dizziness or back pain symptoms that used to terrify her, she knows it’s time for a visit. “I only get better when I come to the hospital,” Amina says frankly, adjusting the black bracelet she wears to hide where the IV went in.
Thanks to the consistent treatment, Amina is gaining back weight and even returning to school. She’s one of the few girls in her class who can explain what diabetes is and she does so without shame or fear. In fact, Amina proudly shows her friends the insulin pen that keeps her healthy. Her dream is to become a nurse one day, inspired by those who care for her. “The medicine is what I need, and I hope I will get better and better,” she says softly, confidence growing in her voice. For Amina’s family, the journey from despair to stability has been remarkable. They know diabetes is a long-term challenge, but with MSF’s support, they no longer feel alone in facing it. “This hospital is the one we rely on,” Abdullahi says. “Here, my daughter got a second chance.”