Blanket of hope
When World Vision came to respond to flooding, Mohamed’s family was among the 265 beneficiaries in Bo Jong village. They received nonfood items of clothes, long lasting insecticide treated nets, cups, bowls, spoons, warm clothing, a tarpaulin and, above all, blankets. But Mohamed needed help. He was seriously ill and needed medical attention immediately.
When floods hit Bo Jong Village, which is among 24 communities along the Jong River affected by seasonal flooding, it left inhabitants in anguish. Several mud houses collapsed, some had their clothes and other household items washed away; others spent days bailing water out of their homes. Children residing in the villages were not able to enjoy their school holidays and some became very ill. One such child is Mohamed Jalloh.
Mohamed, according to his aunt, who is his guardian, is seven but looks much older. Mohamed does not go to a formal school, instead he attends a local ‘madrasa’, an Islamic school. Mohamed was severely affected by the flood. His house collapsed but luckily nothing happened to them and they relocated to another house.
“We were not able to save anything, our things were washed away. My aunt was able to secure three clothes for me which are not even in a good condition and the place we relocated to I slept on the floor,” Mohamed explained.
“I tried saving some of our belongings but as the rains were heavy and our house flooded, it was important to save the children,” said Memunatu, Mohamed’s aunt.
At the new location, Mohamed’s bed -- the floor – was not ideal. As it was the rainy season, Mohamed became very ill.
When World Vision came to respond to the emergency, Mohamed’s family was among the 265 beneficiaries in Bo Jong village. They received nonfood items of clothes, long lasting insecticide treated nets, cups, bowls, spoons, warm clothing, a tarpaulin and, above all, blankets.
When Mohamed and his aunt received the items on behalf of the family, Mohamed was particularly excited about the blanket. Though sick, he was able to carry it home.
“With this blanket, I can now be warm and won’t get sick again from the cold,” he says.
Mohamed further explains, “I cannot sleep on the bare mat anymore, I can spread part of this blanket on our sleeping mats and can cover with the other one given to my brothers and all of us can get warm when the night is cold. It’s our blanket of hope.”
Though Mohamed received the blanket and was content with it, he was seriously ill and needed medical attention immediately. With World Vision’s help, Mohamed was taken immediately to Mattru Jong. After a two hour ride on the rough river Jong under heavy rain, Mohamed made it to the hospital. There, he was diagnosed with severe malnutrition, dehydration and a cold.
When the news of Mohamed’s illness reached his biological mother, she rushed straight to the hospital.
“I must thank you, World Vision for saving my son’s life,” Fatmata Sow expressed amidst tears.
It was later learnt from Fatmata that Mohamed’s father abandoned his mother when she was two months pregnant. So when she gave birth to Mohamed, her sister Memunatu took him in to help.
World Vision through Jong Area Development Programme (ADP) is footing Mohamed’s medical bills until he becomes better and can go to a formal school. Our vision for Mohamed is life in all its fullness; and our prayer for Mohamed’s heart, and his family’s heart, is the will to make it so.
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