Enfeebled by Rheumatic Heart Disease, girl needs needs Shs31m for surgery

Joan Asimire started feeling unwell in primary four and for the rest of her primary education, doctors were only treating symptoms of malaria.

“I used not to sleep. I was going to both traditional doctors and hospitals,” she says. “I was first given local herbs. This didn’t improve my condition.”

It was not until she joined Primary Six, after a long illness, that the doctors diagnosed her with a Rheumatic Heart Disease with severe Mitral Regurgitation.

Solution
Her Doctor Mohammed Rehan, a visiting Dr with Novik Hospital in Kampala, says it is a condition where the valve that controls blood flow is damaged and needs an Endoscopic Heart Surgery to repair. It will cost Shs31 million in India.

Asimire says, her condition worsened when she joined secondary school in 2006.

“I kept coming to Mulago National Referral Hospital for treatment. From S.2, I was given tablets to take every day. I would get attacks, fail to breath and fainted.

“When I would do heavy work like carrying jerricans, the pain would increase. After S.6 in 2011, I wasn’t taking the medicines daily because some doctors would ask me to stop because they didn’t want my body to get used to it while others would tell me to continue.

“I was also tired of swallowing medicine every day,” she adds.

Worsening condition
Now the attacks are frequent. She constantly has chest pain, cough and has continued to grow thin.

“I have lost appetite and I throw up whenever I try to eat. I am constantly in hospital because the situation is worsening,” she says.

The doctors at Mulago Hospital have advised her not to take lots of medicine because her body could easily get immune to it. They too, say she needs urgent surgery which can only be done in India.

Born to Charles Byarugaba, a peasant from Buyanja, Rukungiri District, Asimire is unable to raise money for the operation and is now seeking help from well-wishers.

To Help: Contact Joan Asimire’s uncle Emannuel Twinamatsiko on 0772952780

flanyero@ug.nationmedia.com