Medical treatment for Illo

Illo Arbela is 9 years old and is from Hamer, an ethnic community in a remote part of southern Ethiopia.

I met Illo during a goat distribution that the Red Cross was doing in response to drought that had plagued the community. Illo had heard that the Red Cross was visiting and walked alone over difficult terrain in 40 degree heat to ask for help. This would have been difficult in any circumstance, but was unbelievable due to a serious leg injury he has.

Illo had been bitten by a snake and had received some medical treatment but before the wound was healed he was sent back home. The house Illo lives in is only made of mud and sticks and the floor is dirt. So with all the dust and dirt and no water, antiseptic or bandages to keep his leg clean the wound had become extremely infected.

Illo urgently needed medical treatment but there is no free healthcare in Ethiopia - everything from the ambulance transport, blood tests and xrays, hospital stay, medicine, bandages etc must all be paid for. Additionally, Illo's family are extremely poor and therefore the cost for accommodation, food and travel for Illo and his parent also needs to be covered, as the closest hospital is about 3 hours drive away from their home.

Illo is being treated at the local hospital in Jinka but also needed to be brought to Addis Ababa for specialist treatment as the local hospital did not have the expertise, facilities and medication he needed. Illo's treatment means he is in hospital for about 2 months and support is needed to help cover the mounting costs.

Currently Illo does not attend school and he has personally asked to be supported to get an education. So once his medical treatment is finished and his leg is better the hope is to send Illo to school so he has brighter opportunities for his future.