One-year-old Nakalembe needs Shs18.6m for heart surgery

Jessica Nakalembe
What you need to know:
Doctors at Mulago Hospital have recommended urgent open-heart surgery, which costs Shs18.6m.
Jessica Nakalembe was born on January 25, 2024. However, after returning home, her mother, Prossy Nakaweke noticed that her heart rate was unusually high. Concerned, she took her back to the hospital, but doctors assured her that a fast heartbeat in newborns was normal.
Ms Nakaweke put her worries aside until June, when her baby developed a severe cough and flu that triggered dangerously high temperatures, causing her to lose consciousness. At the hospital, doctors recommended an echocardiogram (echo) to assess her heart condition. However, the test cost Shs250,000 which Nakaweke could not afford at the time.
While she struggled to raise the money, doctors performed a Complete Blood Count (CBC) test, which revealed that Nakalembe had pneumonia. She received treatment, recovered, and was discharged.
In December, the cycle repeated; another severe cough and flu, high fever, and another loss of consciousness. A CBC confirmed pneumonia once again, and doctors insisted on an echo. With limited resources, Nakaweke requested a referral to a more affordable hospital. At Mulago National Referral Hospital, she finally managed to raise Shs70,000 for the test. The results were devastating; Nakalembe had two holes in her heart and a vein that had failed to close properly.
Since December, Nakalembe has lost significant weight, struggles to breathe, has a poor appetite, and appears stunted. Her hair even falls out despite regular bathing.
Doctors at Mulago Hospital have recommended urgent open-heart surgery, which costs Shs18.6m. Unfortunately, Nakaweke is unemployed, and her husband cannot afford to pay for the surgery either.
“I am pleading with anyone who can help to support my daughter financially and give her a second chance at life,” Nakaweke says.
To contribute towards Nakalembe’s surgery, please send mobile money to: 0777984193 / 0767521446 (Prossy Nakaweke).