Restoring Freedom and Human Worth
“Thank you to everyone that gave me stoma bags. I am very, very grateful and speak blessings upon you. Without your support, I would still be locked up in my house. But now I am free.” — Phydes
Phydes comes from a remote village in Zambia’s Southern Province. She is staying in Lusaka with her niece while undergoing chemotherapy at the Cancer Diseases Hospital, the country’s only specialised cancer treatment centre. To reach care, she travelled hundreds of kilometres, leaving behind her home and the familiarity of her community.
Before receiving support, daily life was shaped by scarcity.
Without access to colostomy supplies, Phydes relied on plastic bags and cloth cuttings- an unsafe and undignified solution that carried constant risk. The fear of leakage and odour meant she rarely left the house, except for essential hospital visits. Over time, she withdrew from everyday life, no longer attending church and becoming increasingly isolated.
Through the support of our volunteer, Timothy, in Zambia, Footprints 2 Africa was able to start providing Phydes with appropriate ostomy supplies. This support has brought immediate change. With access to proper care, Phydes now has greater confidence to move beyond her room, attend appointments with dignity and reconnect with the world around her. What was once survival is now the beginning of restoration of safety, of human worth, and of hope.
Her words reflect the impact clearly: freedom.
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