Story
I kickstarted the Ubumuntu* Health Fund in 2021 with my Swim 4 Rwanda. I'm now hoping to boost the health fund so more children and staff at ASFA Physiotherapy Centre can receive specialist healthcare for years to come.
*Ubumuntu is a Kinyarwanda word that means to be humane: to genuinely care about others, to be generous and kind, to show empathy, to be sympathetic to the plight of others, and to recognise the humanity of others.
The Ubumuntu Health Fund aims to do what the word suggests by providing financial help for healthcare where government and private health insurance schemes fall short.
This year, the fund helped one of the inspiring carers, Diane obtain treatment for a genetic disorder that causes tumours to form on nerve tissues. The fund paid for her diagnosis, two operations, transport to the hospital, food while in hospital and work-cover while she received treatment and during her recovery.
Diane is now back at work and doing great and I look forward to meeting her when I visit in February. This treatment would not have been possible without the help of the Ubumuntu Health Fund so please kindly donate whatever you can to help continue life-changing healthcare. Every penny really does makes a difference!
Please watch this short video to meet Mugisha and scroll down to see what your donation can buy.
ASFA Physiotherapy Centre provides physiotherapy and occupational therapy for disabled children like Mugisha (above) and Cédric (below) and outpatient care for adults.
Cédric has cerebral palsy and was an inpatient in 2016 where he learned to walk. He now lives at home and is a popular kid on the block with his zest for life and infectious smile. Read more about Cédric's story and others here .
Children at ASFA Physiotherapy Centre have access to specialist therapeutic equipment shipped from the UK to help them reach their treatment goals.
What will my donation buy?
- £3 per year buys a health insurance card that provides access to primary healthcare.
- £5 pays for an x-ray
- £6 pays for a hospital consultation e.g. orthopaedics
- £10 - £40 pays for patient transport to specialist hospitals (price varies depending on the hospital)
- £20 pays for one month of food for one ASFA Physio inpatient or carer
- £25 pays for epilepsy medicine for one month
- £30 per month pays for the salary of a specialist carer
- £35 per month pays for charcoal for cooking inpatient meals
- £50 pays for porridge and fruit for 12 inpatients a month
- £60 pays for cleaning products for the centre for a month - vital to maintain good hygiene standards!
- £300 pays for a physiotherapist for one month
I cannot wait to see Lead Carer Francine (in yellow above!), all the staff and children in the new building and to see all the progress since my last visit. Their smiles are infectious. The love and the generosity of those who have so little and are yet so keen to give to others never fails to inspire me to be better.
Thank you for your help and if you have any questions, please just ask!
Cate xxx
