TARIKU's Case
Tariku Dagnaw is one of the nine children under the care of the Redefine Life Foundation.
He was doing well in school and during the 10th grade exam he failed the exam surprising all of us. After we
had a conversation after the exam as to what happened it turned out he was going blind. All the other kids
had noticed him running into things but had assumed he was being clumsy. RDL took Tariku to Bahir Dar Felege
Hiwot Hospital where Doctor Mulun Atenaw M.D. conducted the diagnosis: Here are few lines from the medical
certificate issued by Dr Atenaw:
1. He has poor vision from both eyes since early childhood.
2. He has macular degeneration, a medical condition which usually affects older adults those results in a
loss of vision in the center of the visual field.
3. The macular degeneration has led to Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) a group of genetic eye conditions.
In the progression of symptoms for RP, night blindness generally precedes tunnel vision by years or even
decades. Many people with RP do not become legally blind until later in life and retain some sight all their lives.
The Redefine Life Foundation brought Tariku to Addis Ababa for further examination and to enroll him at
the Addis Hiwot School for the Blind. His diagnosis was confirmed and the school was able to accept him
tuition free. However, they indicated it was the responsibility of the Redefine Life Foundation to situate
the room and board in Addis Ababa.
We conducted a fundraiser via cookies sales, lap top sales and through the
web at Razoo.com to obtain funds to secure a rental property for Tariku and get a contract to cover his meals
at a local restaurant.
He has currently mastered both Amharic and English Brail and returns after school to assist
other children whose conditions (degree of blindness) are worst.
