- Ana de Lurdes, © Handicap International
Ana de Lurdes, a little girl of twelve, was seriously hurt when she trod on a landmine on the outskirts of her village in Southern Mozambique. Like many other children, Ana was a victim of the civil war which ravaged the country for more than fifteen years.
In 1991, her parents had to flee their village, abandoning their land and possessions. They only returned home a year later, after the peace agreements were signed. A sort of calm seemed to have descended on Ana's life once again. Aged eight, she went to live with her aunt who was willing to pay her school fees.
But on 25th January 2001, a terrible tragedy occurred. Ana went out to collect water for the washing-up. A few minutes later, an explosion rang out. Her aunt was worried and headed for the water fountain: she found Ana lying on the ground unconscious. Ana had trodden on a landmine.
Ana was taken to hospital and had to have her leg amputated. She was then fitted with a prosthesis. She had to spend several months in hospital and in rehabilitation before she could return home.
Ana says she is better now, and she can play with her friends again. "Thanks to my prosthesis, I can walk, but not like before.”
Touched by the quality of the care she received, Ana now wants to become a nurse.
