The performance of free surgeries for children with hydrocephalus, at the Neurosurgical Center for the Treatment of Hydrocephalus, is guaranteed, during the first quarter of 2024, following the institution received a donation of ten million kwanzas, from the NGO Your Sorriso is the Minha Alegria, chaired by former Miss Angola 2015, Whitney Shikongo
Information regarding the amount made available was provided yesterday by the person responsible for the aforementioned Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) at the facilities of that health unit, where she noted the need for more institutions in the country dedicated to treating this type of disease.
“Our objective is exactly this: to bring joy. We, as an NGO, aim to end the morbidity and mortality of hydrocephalus and related diseases.
That’s why we brought ten million kwanzas to ensure that more than 40 children were operated on,” he said.
For the director of the Neurosurgical Center for the Treatment of Hydrocephalus, Mayanda Inocente, the moment was given, at a time when, as head of the institution, he was considering the means by which he would begin the surgeries next year.
“Our biggest obstacle is the lack of resources, the lack of budgets for the Center.
So, the fact that today we received a donation of ten million kwanzas means free surgeries for three months of 2024.
The target of 40 children, perhaps, can be exceeded”, he said. In addition to the surgeries, the specialist said that the amount will also be used to assist children in consultation and nursing services, during the referenced period, with only the remaining months of the year missing.
Mayanda Inocente admitted that the country has grown a lot in terms of response capacity for these surgeries, considering that the Center currently carries out weekly operations, unlike previous years, when they were carried out at an interval of one to two months.
For this, he thanked Whitney Shikongo’s NGO.
Fátima Manuel, young and first-time mother of a baby with hydrocephalus, understands that the day-to-day life of a woman whose child suffers from this disease is very difficult, starting with the stigma from society itself.
“The day-to-day life of a mother of a baby with hydrocephalus is very complicated. It’s very sad to know that your son was born with this problem!
At first, I was stressed out by everyone. My son has already had surgery twice. But, on Thursday they told me that he is going to have surgery once more”, shared the young woman who said she was learning to deal with the situation.
The NGO-Your Smile is My Joy, in addition to monetary values, also offered a supportive Christmas for those children with various recreational activities, having, in the end, distributed basic food baskets to families and hospital products to the Center.
