In February 2006 a distressed woman in labor traveled forty kilometers alone to the hospital - walking, then on the back of a bicycle and then in a minibus. Soon after reaching the hospital her daughter - a healthy girl, her fourth child - was born, and moments later she died.
Chikumbutso was left to the care of her father and maternal relatives. Before Chiku was discharged from the hospital I met her grandmother and father, nurses taught them how to safely prepare formula for their baby and I made plans to visit Chiku and her family in their village.
Over the next few years Joanne Jorissen then Chimwemwe mu'bereki provided formula, food supplements, and served as her advocate when she needed hospital care. CU is still following Chiku and her family, but now on the cusp of her forth birthday she is a success story.
During Joanne's most recent visit to her village her grandfather expressed his profound gratitude saying that the family would have never managed to keep her alive without our support.
