At twelve, there are so many things you can do. You can dream about the kind of woman or man you want to become when you grow up. You can work hard at school, or complain about not feeling particularly enthusiastic about studying. You can go for walks with friends, look after your younger brothers and sisters, and help your parents around the house. What you should never have to do, however, is fight for your right to receive the care you need. And yet, for Beshu, a tuberculosis diagnosis almost became a death sentence. We meet her at Wolisso Hospital, in Ethiopia.
“I will never forget the look in her eyes,” recalls Angela – infectious diseases resident at Wolisso Hospital. “There was the maturity of a grown woman in her gaze, and an extraordinary sense of dignity.”
Beshu had to leave her childhood behind far too soon. This became clear when she arrived at the hospital suffering from severe, advanced tuberculosis, which had spread to her liver, abdomen, heart and lungs.
“She had been diagnosed a year earlier,” Angela continues, “but she had been forced to stop treatment.”
Behind this interruption lay an extremely difficult family situation that prevented Beshu from leaving her home, even forcing her to abandon her education. But despite the gaps in her schooling, Beshu knew one thing with absolute certainty: accessing treatment was her only chance of survival. And she fought with all her strength to make it to the hospital.
At Wolisso, the CUAMM team was finally able to give Beshu the care she needed, matching her determination with their own commitment to giving her a fighting chance. Her clinical condition, however, was extremely complex, with several organs already severely affected. Caring for her required considerable medical expertise, careful assessment of her condition, and a step-by-step approach to treatment.
“The Ethiopian doctors I worked alongside are exceptionally skilled and have a deep understanding of the context in which they work. Our exchanges were constant and incredibly valuable: they know how to handle the challenges they face and have so much to teach us. The support and collaboration between colleagues, both Ethiopian and Italian, made an enormous difference in our day-to-day work.”
Beshu’s story is also a reminder of how important it is to be able to place your trust in healthcare professionals. This is no small thing for a twelve-year-old girl, yet Beshu faced every challenge her illness brought with remarkable courage.
“I was deeply moved by her determination and the way she endured pain. Unfortunately, we were never able to communicate directly, as we didn’t share a common language. But her eyes spoke volumes: they conveyed extraordinary gratitude and a profound awareness of everything she was going through. She endured examinations, injections and drainage procedures without ever complaining.”
