Children victims of hydrocephalus without adequate care in Angola

Hydrocephalus: one of the evils that still affect thousands of children in the country. At least 10,000 children are annually diagnosed with hydrocephalus. Of this number, only 300 to 400 are surgically intervened. Patients complain of discrimination and abandonment. 

Observing a baby with hydrocephalus

We would like to share a piece of what the daily lives of many African children have been like.

This baby spends most of his life on the street. His mother leaves the house very early to sell and takes him with her. Upon arriving at the place of sale, the mother puts him on the ground and he spends the whole day under the sun playing alone in the dust.

Most of the relatives of children with hydrocephalus live in suburban areas and many travel from remote provinces and municipalities.

The lack of information about the disease has caused a series of family disagreements, cultural prejudices and mysticism. In the early days of the country's independence, surgical interventions for hydrocephalus were rarely and casually performed by general surgeons and were the privilege of a few.

There are few specialist doctors. The only and largest neurosurgical center for the treatment of the disease has reduced services due to lack of funds. These difficulties place Angola as the only country in SADC that still depends on charity to treat it.