Hilda Azusiyine, a 28-year-old woman from Gambibgo in the Upper East Region, once faced a harsh reality that forced her to abandon her education and shoulder the heavy responsibility of caring for her epileptic father alone. “I cry anytime I see my peers in school because I had to drop out to care for my father,” Hilda shares.
Her father’s condition often caused sudden seizures, leaving him vulnerable and injured. Even close family members, overwhelmed by stigma and fear, distanced themselves from him, leaving Hilda isolated in her caregiving role.
Before joining the YINESUNGMAH Self-Help Group in 2018—where she now serves as secretary—Hilda’s family and father struggled with rejection and neglect. “His situation was worse before joining the group,” Hilda recalls. “He often felt rejected due to the perceptions and attitudes of even my own family members.”
Everything began to change when Hilda’s father received consistent medical care through the support of BasicNeeds-Ghana and its partners. With proper medication and encouragement from the self-help group, his seizures drastically reduced, restoring his dignity and sense of belonging. This improvement also softened the hearts of Hilda’s family members, who gradually changed their attitudes and embraced both father and daughter.
For Hilda, the transformation went beyond her father’s health. With support from BasicNeeds-Ghana, she enrolled in a fashion training center, learned dressmaking, and received a sewing machine to start her own business.
Today, she proudly runs a rented shop and employs four apprentices, sharing the skills that have empowered her to stand on her own feet. “By the grace of God, I have graduated and started working,” she says with hope.
“My father’s improved condition and the acceptance we now enjoy from our family and community bring me immense joy,” Hilda concludes. “I am grateful beyond words to BasicNeeds-Ghana and all the donors who stood by us in our darkest times.
