Maawa needs Shs64m for a kidney transplant

He has been battling diabetes for more than 18 years. Now his kidneys are affected. A transplant is what he needs as soon as possible.

It is hard to miss the white bandage on Ronald Maawa’s right shoulder. Beneath it, is a small tube connected to a needle that is pricked into his flesh. His legs and hands are puffy, and he can barely talk. He only murmurs a few words whenever someone is talking to him.

The father of two keeps moaning because of the pain and tossing around on his hospital bed in Ward 4C, Mulago hospital where he is admitted.

“Maawa is here because his kidneys are damaged. They are not functioning well,” says his brother, Francis Candia Alioma.
His kidney disease is attributed to a poorly controlled type one diabetes mellitus.

Maawa has been battling diabetes, which was diagnosed 18 years ago when he was in Senior One. Since then, he has been receiving insulin injections, every morning and evening, to regulate the sugar levels in his body.

He came to know the poor state of his kidneys in November last year when he went to Arua National Referral hospital. A few days prior to this visit, he often complained of body ache, low appetite and painful swellings on his body.

“He definitely knew that there was something wrong with his body and that is what forced him to visit the hospital, where he was told that he had kidney failure,” Alionda states.
That is where he was receiving medication until early March when he was transferred to Mulago hospital.

Dr Simon Peter Eyoku, Consultant Physician and Head of the Renal Unit at the hospital, says Maawa was admitted in a sorry state: “We thought that we were going to lose him.” But after being put on dialysis, his condition greatly improved.

The dialysis treatment performs functions similar to that of the kidneys. It removes toxins from the blood. That is why patients with kidney failure are offered this treatment. It is however very costly.
“Patients have to part with almost Shs1m weekly in order to have the treatment,” the physician reveals. “Having a kidney transplant as soon as possible is the only way to curtail such expenses. However, most patients are not fortunate enough because of unavailability of both kidney donors and funds.”

In Maawa’s case, there is a kidney donor but lack of funds to facilitate a transplant at Apollo hospital in India.
Maawa, who is a town agent based in Arua Hill Division, needs up to $25,000 (Shs64.5m) inclusive of transport and accommodation for three persons: the recipient, the donor and a caretaker.