Family seeking funds for child’s open heart surgery

Nine-year-old Bernard Olungura needs Shs20m for an open heart surgery due in November. courtesy photo.

The family of a pupil who is due to undergo an open heart surgery at Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala is seeking financial assistance from well-wishers to enable him have treatment.
Bernard Olungura, 9, a Primary Two pupil of Seeta Parents School in Mukono District was recently diagnosed with an atrial septal defect (AS) - a hole in the wall of his heart (Atria).
According to the boy’s father, Derry Erupu, the condition was present at birth (congenital) but it was only recently discovered at Mulago National Referral Hospital.
“The doctor has recommended an urgent heart surgery on November 30, 2015 and the cost of operation is estimated at Shs20m,” Erupu confirmed to Daily Monitor.
Erupu appealed for help from well-wishers to intervene in order to raise the funds needed so as to rescue the life of the boy.

Dire medical condition
“My child would sweat unnecessarily even when it was cold; would have red eyes and develop funny rashes. For a long time, we thought it was an allergy and used to treat it anyhow,” Erupu says.
Erupu further explains that whenever his son falls sick, he gets abnormal pumping of the heart, something that worries family members a lot.
He notes that the young boy is currently on medication pending an operation at the heart institute at the end of November this year.

Erupu says doctors have told him that if his child is operated in Uganda (Mulago) the cost will be between Shs15m and Shs20m but if it is done in India, it will cost between Shs70m and Shs80m.
“I prefer the boy to be operated in Mulago because I don’t have money and that is the reason I am calling on friends, organisations or NGOs and any well-wishers who could help in footing those costs to come to the boys rescue,” Erupu says.

How you can help
Funds may be deposited in Centenary Bank under Account title: Derry Erupu ITO Olungura Bernard, Account number 4520900386, Soroti branch. Telephone contacts of the fundraising committee members include; 0772627268, 0756617074 and on 0776445832 for Derry Erupu, the boy’s father.