08/19/2026
Meet Stephano.
Stephano had been living with a hernia for nearly 20 years. After having it repaired in 2006, the hernia eventually returned and it was worse, coming and going and often causing him pain, especially when he was working as a farmer.
Even though the travel was not easy, he knew he needed to make his way to Kabudula Community Hospital last month when our Operation Medical team was partnering with Access Health Africa. Stephano traveled approximately 20 kilometers by hired motorbike to reach the hospital, hoping that this time he would finally be able to get the surgery he needed.
The day after his procedure, which was performed by Dr. James Fraley, Stephano was eager to share his experience. In fact, after seeing other patients being interviewed, he made sure the team knew that he wanted his story told, too. He called the team to his bedside, excited to talk about his experience. “I am feeling much better now,” he shared. “My life has completely changed.”
For Stephano, that change means more than simply being free from pain. As a farmer who grows soybeans, sunflowers, groundnuts, and cassava and cares for livestock, being able to work is essential to providing for his family. At home, his family relies on well water and lives without electricity, so the tasks of daily living aren’t quite as easy or convenient as most of us are used to.
Stephano believes programs like this one do more than provide surgery - they save lives and save families the cost of seeking care they otherwise could not afford. He hopes to see more programs like it in the future, particularly for cancer care and for bringing doctors closer to the villages where people live.
