Nkhatabay, MALAWI — Mary Moyo, 19, is the sixth of seven children from Sura Village, under Traditional Authority Kabunduli in Nkhatabay. She was a healthy child until the age of eight, when her life changed unexpectedly.
“One day, while playing with my friends, I suddenly felt sharp pain in my legs,” Mary recalls. “I couldn’t stand up or walk. Every step hurt so much.”
After visiting the hospital, Mary was diagnosed with sickle cell anaemia—a condition she had never heard of before.
“It was hard to accept that I had sickle cell anaemia,” she says. “At that age, I didn’t understand what it meant. All I could think about was how different I would be from my friends, and how difficult it would be to play with them again.”
Since then, Mary has faced many challenges. She relies on others to help her move from place to place, which has affected both her social life and education.
“I struggle to interact properly with my friends because I can’t walk on my own,” she explains. “After school, I watch them go out to play and wish I could join, but I’m left behind.”
Mary’s condition has also disrupted her studies. Her class attendance and participation in group discussions depend on whether her mother or friends are available to assist her.
“I’m not good at mathematics,” she admits. “Our teacher says it’s a subject that needs a lot of practice and discussions with friends. But it’s hard for me because I can’t easily join group activities.”
She reflects on how different things might have been: “If I could walk on my own, I’d be able to join discussions and get help with math problems. I wouldn’t have to rely so much on my mother, sisters, or friends.”
Recognizing the challenges faced by young people like Mary, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), through its Safeguard Young People (SYP) Programme, is working to support adolescents with disabilities.
With funding from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the programme ensures that young people with disabilities have access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services, while promoting their active participation and access to critical resources.
Through this initiative, Mary received a wheelchair to ease her mobility challenges and help her pursue her dreams.
“I have always wanted to become a bank manager in the future,” she shares with a smile. “This wheelchair will help me attend school more regularly and focus on my studies, bringing me closer to that dream.”
Previously, Mary’s mother had to carry her to school every day—an enormous challenge that forced her to put her small business on hold.
My mother would go late to the market just to take me to school, and after classes, she’d have to leave her business early to bring me back home
Now, with the wheelchair, Mary can move around more independently. She can participate in household chores, take care of herself, and help out at home when her mother and siblings are away.
“I’m happy that I’ll be able to go to school on my own and spend more time with my friends,” she says. “There are things I can talk about with my friends that I wouldn’t share with my sisters or mother.”
By Nicholas Phiri, Communications Consultant
