Help Koko a Fellow Scouter

Koko Bara Bazira is an active member of SCOUTS South Africa. As a fellow Scouter I have seen first hand how he puts the needs of others first and lives the Scout Law and Promise. Originally from the DRC, Koko made his way to South Africa in 2007. Since then he has built a stable life while working as the supervisor for a local backpackers hostel, furthered his skills in sailing by achieving his skippers license and is an active member of the community in Durban, South Africa including volunteering at RNYC sea rescue with the NSRI. His new life allows him to send money home to his mother, whose dream it is to build a house for herself.

On the 20 February 2019, Koko started to experience abdominal pains and sought medical treatment in one of the Government hospitals. Unfortunately, this treatment did not improve his condition, instead the pain become dramatically worse. He contacted a Scouting friend, whose wife is a nurse. She instructed him to go straight to her recommended private hospital and met him there.

The doctor examined him and confirmed he had an infected abscess and needed to have an operation immediately without attending to this the results would be fatal. Not having medical aid become a huge challenge, as the hospital required a cash deposit before any treatment could commence. Existing funds from a donor were transferred in order to pay the deposit and secure his operation.

During the operation, the surgeons were able to remove the abscess, and found further up in the bowel the abscess was emptying into the intestines causing necrosis (dying of healthy tissue causing septicemia). With the rising costs of medical treatment, Koko will hopefully be moved to a Government hospital in the next week to keep costs down. He faces a third operations in order to join the two ends of the intestine together so he can continue his life normal. Without any funds we are not able to book his operation.

Koko in the past weeks has relied on the support of friends, family and his own perseverance. Even while in hospital his concern for his mother and family are put before his own. His spirits are always high and smiles through the pain of his wounds.

I am asking you to help an individual who always thinks of others and is an example of a great Scouting hero. May God bless you for your generosity and prayers. These funds will continue to give Koko a fighting chance to receive the proper medical care he deserves.