Kidney patient seeks sh70m

By Dan Opolot

Mable Atemo, 25, an Information Technology graduate, has been confined to a hospital bed for over two months after she was diagnosed with kidney failure.

“My feet and stomach started swelling in October last year. I sought treatment at a clinic but there was no improvement. After three weeks, I was advised to go to Mulago Hospital,” Atemo explained.

‘‘At Mulago Hospital I was diagnosed with amoebiasis and malaria. The doctor also told me that I was born with one kidney and that it was completely damaged,’’ she added.

According to Atemo, the doctors advised her to get an urgent kidney transplant or be put on dialysis for the rest of her life.

Dialysis is a temporary measure that can be used to remove toxic waste from the body.

“I cannot pass urine on my own. I am in great pain and living a miserable life,” Atemo explained.

According to doctors, the treatment costs sh70m in India.

Yayeri Adiko, Atemo’s mother, said she had to raise sh1.5m before Atemo could be put on dialysis treatment. 

“It took me one month to get the money. By then Atemo was unconscious and she had been put on oxygen. I reached out to friends and relatives to help me raise the money because I had no job,” Adiko explained.

She said Atemo regained her consciousness after five days on dialysis.

However, Adiko said Atemo still gets sudden attacks that leave her unconscious.

She also said doctors recommended dialysis treatment sessions at least three times a week until Atemo gets a kidney transplant.

“Sometimes I fail to bring her to the hospital because it costs between sh400,000  and sh500,000 for a session. However, the cost varies because sometimes she has other infections that require different treatment," Adiko explained.

“I need at least sh70m to take Atemo to India for treatment,” Adiko said.

She appealed to the public to help save Atemo’s life by making financial contributions. Contributions can be deposited on: Kidney Transplant Fund, Barclays Bank Kampala Road branch on Account number: 6002947194.

Adiko can also be reached on telephone numbers +256 (0) 772587045 or +256 (0) 701059407.