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An eleven year old girl who visited the Barako Family Health and Education Centre told the project workers that her father had killed her mother when she was seven years old. The family contains six small children and, as they have no mother, the young girl takes care of her brothers and sisters with her grandmother who runs a small market shop. When she is not helping her grandmother with the shop, she comes to the support group where she has gained in confidence since receiving counselling.

A lady called Zeinab Ali Samater, living in Burco, contracted the disease HIV/AIDS. She faced huge problems of ill health and lack of support. The hospital would not treat her, and turned her away. Her family also refused to let her back into their home. She gave up hope and sought refuge in a broken down and deserted house. Some neighbours would leave a bowl of food for her, but no one would speak to her. In the end, she was killed by a wild animal.

Mr H is a thirteen year old disabled boy, born paralysed in both legs. Both his parents are dead and he is being looked after by his eighty year old frail grandfather, who can barely support himself, let alone a disabled person.

Ms FH is a fourteen year old disabled girl from a nomadic family who came to Burco after their livestock had been destroyed by famine and drought. Her mother has been selling vegetables in the market to support her family.

Ms F is an eight year old girl who was born disabled. Her father died in the 1988 civil war, so she lives with her mother and they survive on a small ration of food, which they get from the orphan's camp.

Ms H is a ten year old disabled girl, due to being shot in the back in the 1994 war between tribal factions. She is being looked after by her father who earns their living from a donkey-driven water cart.

Ms BH is an eleven year old disabled girl, who lost a leg and an arm because a bomb was thrown into their house. She lives with her mother and father, who scarcely manages to support his family as a middleman selling animals in the livestock market.

Ms HH is a nine year old disabled girl from a nomadic family; she was burnt by walking on a smouldering animal waste while her mother was out minding the animals. She was brought to Burco District Hospital and is now being taken care of by her grandmother. She needs urgent help to save her legs from becoming paralysed.

Ms NB is a five year old girl who was born disabled. She lives with her family in Burco. Her mother supports the family by selling cooked food in the fruit and vegetable market.

Mr AW is a thirteen year old disabled boy, due to an injection he received six years ago when he fell ill. He is living with his father who earns his living from a hand-cart that he uses to carry things from place to place.

Mr NM is a three year old disabled boy. Mr NM had polio when he was one year old and was paralysed in an arm and leg. He lives with his mother who supports the family by buying and selling milk in the market.

Mr AH is a young disabled boy who was injured in his village after being bitten by a snake. There was no medication for snake bite injuries, so his leg was amputated as soon as he reached the hospital. His mother supports the family by buying and selling cigarettes on the road to the moving lorries and cars.

Ms AJ is a seventy year old woman who was born and lived most of her life as a nomad. She never married and for more than forty years lived with her parents and two brothers. After they died, she moved to the city of Burco where she had a stall in the market selling trinkets, but as her age advanced, she didn't have the strength to work anymore. At the present time, she has no fixed accommodation or assistance at all.

Ms DD is 68 years old. She was married with two children, but now both her children and her husband are dead. She is blind due to prolonged malnutrition, and she now lives in a rundown home with no means of support.

Ms HA is eighty years old. She had three children, but two of them have died. She previously worked for Burco District Hospital, but she is now gradually losing her sight as well as taking care of her blind son. They are experiencing hunger, illness and homelessness.

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Link to:
Barako Health and Education Centre
Case Studies (In Britain)