A Fulani woman receives medicine from an OBI doctor.

AGILA, Nigeria – Time was running out for little Theresa.

The 3-year-old was battling malaria and the high fever was taking a toll on her small body.

Statistically, the odds of survival were not in her favor. Every 30 seconds a child dies from malaria, but Theresa’s mother didn’t need to know those numbers to see that her daughter was in trouble. She watched painfully as her daughter’s condition worsened with no remedy in sight.

The only health facility in their village had closed down years ago as a result of communal conflict with the neighboring Ebonyi state, leaving villagers with no access to basic medical care.

Recently, Operation Blessing partnered with Hadassah Foundation, a local nonprofit, to hold a medical mission in the region.

When villagers heard that a medical team had arrived and was providing free care, many traveled for miles, desperate to be helped.

The relief could not have been more timely for young Theresa whose fever finally began to break after doctors gave medicine to treat her for malaria as well as parasites.

“I’m so grateful to Operation Blessing for helping my little girl,” said her mother. “She would have died if you had not treated her.”

During the 4-day medical mission, Operation Blessing provided free medical care to more than 1,300 villagers, which also included minor surgeries and a distribution of prescription glasses.

HOW YOU CAN HELP
Be a part of OBI's ongoing medical relief efforts by making an online contribution to help those suffering from extreme poverty and sickness.

 

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