Heart patient seeks assistance

Jun 06, 2007

A 14-year-old girl, Juliana Nakimbowa, who was diagnosed with rheumatic heart disease is seeking $14,700 (about sh24.9m) for a heart operation in India.

By Flavia Nakagwa

A 14-year-old girl, Juliana Nakimbowa, who was diagnosed with rheumatic heart disease is seeking $14,700 (about sh24.9m) for a heart operation in India.

Her father, Leonard Lumaala, said Nakimbowa dropped out of school last year because of the illness.

According to a medical report from the Uganda Heart Institute, Nakimbowa needs an urgent open-heart surgery in India because she could not be operated on from here.

“The disease is a condition where the heart valves are damaged by rheumatic fever. It affects many of the body’s connective tissues especially those of the heart, joints, brain or the skin. Anyone can get acute rheumatic fever, but it usually occurs in children five to 15 years old,” read the report.

Speaking to The New Vision yesterday, Lumaala said his daughters’ legs had developed swellings, causing difficulty in movement.

“I have failed to raise all the money. I am, therefore, appealing to the public for assistance,” he said. The report said the surgery would be conducted at Frontier Lifeline Hospital in India in August.

Any financial assistance can be deposited on account number 1775930 in Barclays Bank, Kampala main branch in the name of Uganda Heart Foundation (Juliana Nakimbowa).

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