Nevious is just nine years old. When he was six, he was abandoned by both his parents, likely due to ongoing health challenges. Today, he lives with his granny in a rural village in the Choma District of Zambia, where access to medical care and support is extremely limited.
In 2024, Nevious underwent life saving surgery after being diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease. The operation resulted in a stoma giving him a chance to live without the constant pain he once endured.
But survival came with new challenges. For months, Nevious had no consistent access to colostomy bags. Without proper supplies, managing his condition was incredibly difficult. Like many ostomates in under resourced communities, he faced not only physical discomfort but also emotional strain. In his community, stigma around stomas and disability is widespread. Many people suffer in silence, too ashamed or afraid to speak openly about their condition. Without access to the supplies he needed, Nevious was unable to attend school.
The impact reached beyond Nevious. His granny, now his caregiver, has had to remain at home to support him, unable to work or sell goods at the market. The lack of access to basic medical supplies affected their entire household. Everything began to change when Nevious started receiving support from Footprints 2 Africa. With a steady supply of colostomy bags, he now has the dignity, comfort and confidence to manage his condition safely. We have also arranged school supplies and school uniform for him, and his granny is now in the process of enrolling him back into school, something that once felt out of reach.
Before his surgery, Nevious was in constant pain, frequently in and out of hospital. Today, he is a bright, bubbly child, full of life, with a future that feels possible again.
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