With venom coursing through her body, four-year-old Juvenia needed urgent treatment to stay alive. Her local clinic did not have the antivenom to save her. The alternative was a four-hour ambulance drive to the main hospital.
Story by Lobitos Alves
Little Juvenia da Costa Noronha needed treatment urgently when she was bitten by a poisonous snake at her home in Betano, a town on Timor-Leste’s south coast.
As the venom spread through the four-year-old’s body, her family took her to their nearest clinic in Same in the country’s Manufahi Municipality.
But her father Octaviano de Araujo Noronha, a local farmer, was left fearing the worst when the necessary antivenom was not available locally.
“I was deeply saddened when I heard she had been bitten by a venomous green snake,” said Mr Noronha.
“I feared the venom spreading through her body, which could have posed a serious threat to her life.
“After the snake bite, we immediately took her to the health centre in Same, but the nurses said there was no specific medicine to treat her, so she had to be transferred to Guido Valadares National Hospital (HNGV) in Dili.”
With precious time ticking away, the four-hour road journey by ambulance could have been too much for Juvenia. A flight with MAF pilot Philipp Techand was able to bring Juvenia safely to the capital Dili in just 25 minutes, so she could quickly reach the national hospital.
“I felt hopeless because I thought she would lose her life if she travelled by ambulance. Then the nurses informed us that she would be transferred by an MAF plane,” said Mr Noronha.
“MAF gave us hope by flying us to Dili in a shorter time.”
MAF gave us hope by flying us to Dili in a shorter time.
Mr Noronha usually grows cassavas, potatoes, papayas, bananas and taro on his farm. He also works in the paddy fields and sells fresh fish to support his family.
The relieved dad explained what MAF’s vital aviation link meant to him.
“I’m grateful to MAF for helping us and providing a fast emergency response, bringing my daughter from Same to Dili so she could get special treatment,” he said.
“Now, I’m deeply joyful to see my daughter has recovered and survived from this serious condition. We pray God to continue blessing the MAF service to help people in Timor-Leste.”
Inggrid Pinto, MAF Hospital Chaplain, was part of the team that continued to support Juvenia while she spent a week recovering in the hospital (HNGV), a long way from home.
“Juvenia needed an emergency evacuation because her condition was critical, and the venom from the snakebite was dangerous and could risk her life,” said Ms Pinto.
“I was happy to see that her condition had improved when we visited her at HNGV, and it reminded me of the impact that MAF had in saving her life.
“Being part of a life-saving mission is a great privilege, and I’m proud to join MAF in helping the Timorese people who are in need of help.”