Heywot was diagnosed with breast cancer 5 years ago in hospital and was offered chemotherapy and a mastectomy. However, she declined both these treatments, and she now has an extensive open breast wound. A local organisation had offered to fund chemotherapy this year, but she again declined treatment. Local people in her community told her about Hospice Ethiopia and she contacted the Hospice 2 months prior to our visit.
Heywot is divorced and lives alone in a small one-room house. She previously worked as a daily labourer and is illiterate; she now has no source of income. Her son lives nearby and did most of the talking during the visit. She receives a monthly grant from the Tewolde Medhane Comfort fund, and neighbours have given her 10Kg of teff flour so that she can make injera (the staple Ethiopian flatbread).
The nurse from Hospice Ethiopia had partially relieved her pain with ibuprofen. She would benefit from a stronger pain killer like tramadol but under new regulations, Hospice Ethiopia can no longer provide this, and she would need to be seen by a hospital doctor. However, Heywot and her son have refused all further contact with a hospital.
When Heywot was asked what her main problems were, she replied “struggling with life, I don’t have enough food and am still in severe pain”. She feels happiness from God during her daily visits to her church. She wishes to be able to cook, for example, Shiro Wat (a chickpea stew) again which is her favourite food.
Hospice Ethiopia UK 