Corrective Surgery Gives Malita a New Chance at Life

For as long as she can remember, walking was never easy for Malita.  Born with clubfoot, every step brought her pain. At school, she often missed classes, not only because of the physical struggle but also because of the emotional weight of being different.

“Sometimes I was bullied because of my condition. My friends would laugh at me and that hurt me deeply,” says Malita.

Her mother, Rute Lole, watched helplessly as her daughter’s childhood slipped into isolation.

“Life was very hard for my daughter. Walking long distances to school was impossible, and her frequent absenteeism threatened her future,” says Rute.

But just when Malita began to fear that her dreams of becoming a nurse might never come true, a door of hope opened. World Vision Malawi, through its Child Protection Programme partnered with health institutions to identify and assist children living with disabilities in the area. Together with Malawi Against Polio (MAP), Beit Cure Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital and Nsanje District Hospital they conducted a community-wide assessment.

The initiative changed lives of 112 children with various forms of disabilities who were assessed. Eleven children received wheelchairs through MAP while nine including Malita were referred to Beit Cure Hospital for specialized treatment.

World Vision’s Sponsorship Project Officer Philip Kadzakumanja says that the children which were treated had various conditions such as clubfoot, bone deformities, burn contractures, and cleft lips.

For Malita, the turning point came when she was admitted to Beit Cure for corrective surgery. After three days, her life began to transform.

“Now, I am able to do household chores and play with my friends without being mocked,” says Marita.

Though her foot is still healing, Malita is walking into a brighter future, one where her dreams are within reach and her laughter rings louder than the pain she once endured.