Warfarin Warriors

Vincent Okoro, 13, has been a VOOM Foundation pediatric patient since November 2022. He will most likely be on the drug Warfarin for the remainder of his life. Warfarin is a critical medicine that our patients rely on after their open heart procedures. It is an oral anticoagulant commonly used to treat and prevent blood clots. Most of our patients will have to take this medication for the rest of their lives to keep their hearts healthy and prevent clots.

Upon his 6-month return visit, VOOM learned that Vincent had stopped taking his medication.  He stopped because he could not afford it.  The World Health Organization defines poverty in Nigeria as living on less than $300 a year. And sadly, well over 50% of the country falls into that category. A three-month supply of Warfarin is $60 for a patient, and a six-month supply is $120. That means in one year, they would have spent $240, which is more than half the patient's income. Unfortunately, that means that most of our patients cannot afford to pay for their medication, especially if they have a family, where putting a roof over their head and food on the table seems like a more critical need to them. Without this medication, they could die, even with a healed heart. 

VOOM Foundation supplies our patients with a 90-120 daily supply, which will get them to the next time we enter the country again. When we come back for our next mission a few months later, they arrive at our partner hospital, The Dame Irene Okwuosa Memorial Hospital, for their check-up and receive their next round of Warfarin for the next few months. Please consider buying one box ($20) or three boxes ($60), or a 6 month supply! Every dollar makes an impact!