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Natalia | Cania | Lola | Jill's Story

Lola Octavio

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When staff of HIAM-Health first met Lola as an inpatient in Dili Hospital, she had been admitted to the intensive care unit with Bronco-Pneumonia, surviving this she was then transferred to the children's ward. She was now 8 months old and weighed only 4.3 kilo.

Lola's mother had died when she was 4 months old and her father unable to cope had deserted her, a brother (5) and another sister (3) and left them with their Grandmother (maternal).

By the time Lola was ready for discharge from hospital her Grandmother knew from contact with the HIAM-Health staff on the wards that she was to bring her to the center every 2 weeks, she did this without fail, receiving milk powder and education from HIAM Health. Lola's grandma was very malnourished herself, having no income and barely able to scratch together enough food to care for the children. HIAM Health provided her with a small amount of money to help buy food for herself and the other children, soap, clothes etc from the social program funds.

By November 2004 Lola had increased her weight to 8.3kg and was no longer considered malnourished. The Grandmother was also healthier and continues to attend the Education programs. Because of the age of the Grandmother there is no hope in this story that one day this family will become self-sufficient, this family will always require supplementary feeding.

Without organisations like HIAM-Health and Donations of funds Lola and her brother and sister would die.

The above photo was taken June 2005, Lola is continuing to develop and her grandmother still brings her regularly for health checks and attends the Health workshops.

Natalia | Cania | Lola | Jill's Story