A painful wait: Ugandan shepherd with severe burns on his face and neck received treatment in Türkiye after 10 years...
While Bernand Tuhumbısa suffered deep burns on his face and neck, the left side of his lip was stuck to his left shoulder and treatment could not be provided due to the lack of resources.
After his brother shared his condition on social media, Bernand Tuhumbısa was brought to Ankara by an association founded in 2021 to support the poor and needy affected by disasters. Tuhumbısa's treatment was undertaken by the association, which brought him back to life within two months through operations performed at a private hospital. Bernand also reunited with other children treated by the association, giving them hope.
Ali Özdemir, the hospital's Medical Services Coordinator, explained that Bernand had serious problems with his quality of life when he first arrived. "When he first arrived, he had a serious problem with his left lip adhering to his left shoulder. We overcame these problems with several surgeries. Then came physical therapy. There was a problem with his physical therapy and teeth, which was resolved. He's currently undergoing the finishing touches. A few cosmetic procedures remain on his eyebrows, the bridge of his nose, and the corner of his lips. After that, we'll send Bernand off. Bernand's lower left lip was adhering to his left shoulder. We completely freed this area with a skin graft. Now he can move his neck completely freely. We supported this with physical therapy. We've now achieved a significant improvement in his neck movement and quality of life. Of course, the lack of treatment for 10 years has caused us to encounter some challenges in performing the treatment as time goes by. But with the strength of our team and the support of the association, we've overcome this process with ease," he said.
AHİMDER President and health manager Ayşegül Aksu stated that the association has provided burn treatment to more than 6,000 children to date, saying, "Bernard's story truly touched me deeply, as it did for our other children. While he was working as a shepherd, an older brother named Solomon took a video of him and shared it. We saw it on social media. We contacted him immediately and applied for visa procedures. We were deeply saddened to see a child unable to move his neck or eat comfortably for 10 years. Therefore, we quickly brought him to Ankara. After two months of accelerated medical treatment, he regained his current appearance. He is very happy and now loves Turkey. Wherever there is a problem in the world, we are ready to go. It is our greatest source of happiness and pride that whenever there is a burn, Turkey is the first place that comes to mind."
Aksu, stating that Bernand will return to his country after his discharge, said, “From now on, he will receive treatments that are entirely cosmetic, to help him feel better. I will be going to Uganda in six or seven months to check on my other patients. When I go to Uganda, I will also visit Bernand at his home. Many children have come to see Bernand after seeing him. An average of 20 patients a day come to us, and each child says, ‘Bernand was just like us, but he’s gotten better. Can we see him?’ They visit Bernand and say, ‘You’ve gotten better, now it’s my turn.’ He has given hope to children. Our children may experience a delay of one or two years in treatment, but Bernand, after a 10-year delay, has given hope not only to Turkish children but to everyone around the world. He will now move on with his life and smile.”
(DHA)
This content was published by Sedef Karatay
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