Kikuube couple seeks shs47m for child's heart surgery in India
The six month old baby is due for a heart surgery in India.
The family of a six month old baby in Kikuube is seeking shs 47 million for her open heart surgery in India.
Bibiyana Kemigisa , and Godfrey Kirungi say they are struggling to find shs 47 million that specialist at Mulago hospital told them is needed to fly Christine Nyakato to India for a heart surgery.
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Nyakato, a twin baby, has a situation currently deteriorating with a possibility of losing life if the parents do not find the needed money to India in the shortest time period.
Nyakato, is battling a congenital heart defect (truncus arteriosus) that heart specialists say occurs when there is one main blood vessel leaving the heart instead of two, meaning the oxygenated and deoxygenated blood is combined.
The couple who are residents of Kiyoora village in Ruguse parish, Bugambe sub-county in Kikuube district say their baby’s deteriorating health was diagnosed two days after birth.
Her mother Kemigisa says she became suspicious of her daughter’s health, prompting her to run to Kikuube Health Centre 4 where the baby was born for medical management.
“I gave birth to twins including a boy and later a girl. Whereas the boy suckled well, the girl found complications, forcing me to take her to Kikuube health centre and was treated. Later, we were discharged but after one month, the baby girl’s condition worsened,” Kemigisha narrated.
“I took her to a private clinic where she was x-rayed before we were referred to the paediatric specialist at Hoima Regional Referral Hospital for specialised attention. However, we were further referred to Mulago for further medical management.”
Kemigisa adds that while at Uganda Heart Institute, a heart report signed by paediatric cardiologist, Dr Nestor Mbabazi and a paediatrician/ cardiology fellow, Dr Mary Teddy Akech, indicated that Nyakato suffered “truncus arteriosus Type 1 with mild regurgitation of truncal valve.
Nyakato was referred to India for a heart surgery at a cost of Shs47m which Kyomugisha and her husband, Kirungi claim have never touched in their lives.
“The doctors told us that once we get the money, we should fly to India and have the baby operated. We need money for the medical bill and passport for the me and another person who will be assisting me since I have twin babies to look after," a tearful Kemigisa said.
However, flying to India requires the babies to have National Identification Numbers which Kemigisa said Joseph Katende, grandfather to the patient started pursuing in December last year but has up to now not received.
Kemigisa says her husband Kirungi sustained a fracture as he prepared to go to the health facility after being informed of the birth of his twin children.
“It is now six months since my husband suffered broken leg that he sustained when he was preparing some food to leave for the young ones at home before coming to the hospital. He is still nursing the fracture and he is unable to walk.”
Currently, Joseph Katende, the grandfather to the twins who is moving around with the twin mother soliciting support from well-wishers appealing to politicians, organizations to come to their aid so that Nyakato can be operated on.
Ms Kyomugisha can be reached on +256 780 671 169 which Mr Katende’s phone number is +256 784 450 932.
