Hunger, illness blight man's struggle to support family

A man in Soc Trang Province, battling two illnesses, sells lottery tickets to support his family, but is fighting a losing battle against hunger and feels he has failed to provide for them.

Ha Van Lam

Ha Van Lam fell sick four years ago when his eyes began to hurt and borrowed money to get medical treatment. Doctors at HCM City Eye Hosptial found lymphoma and that he had an intestinal hernia.

He has trouble walking, but goes out every day to sell lottery tickets, making VND70,000-100,000 a day.

"I only stay home when the pain is too much to bear. I'm ill, my wife and child are ill, too, so it's normal that some days, we have nothing to eat," he said, "These illnesses won't kill me immediately, but the hunger will."

Lam works despite his illnesses

Lam rents out a part of his land, but repeated hospitalisation has exhausted their funds and he cannot afford necessary surgery.

"After our money ran out, I decided to stay at home," he said.

Lam's wife, Nguyen Thi Hanh, said they cannot afford VND60m for the surgery even if they sell all their land and their house.

Hanh suffers high blood pressure, arthritis and stomach illnesses, and cannot work. Their daughter, Ha Thi Mong Cam, has pneumonia.

Lam in front of his house

She said they want to treat Lam's illness first because he is the pillar of their family.

"I don't know what we would do if anything happened to him. And how can we afford our daughter's studies? Her future looks so bleak," Hanh said.

Phan Van Nha, vice chairman of Song Phung Commune, said, "The authorities and neighbours can only help them so much. We hope the community can help cure Lam."

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