27 year old Solomon Owusu, a resident of Kumasi and a level 300 student of the University of Development Studies (UDS) is slowly dying as his family struggles to raise an amount of Two Hundred Thousand Ghana Cedis to enable him undergo a kidney transplant in India.
Owusu told crimecheckghana that his ailment began with symptoms of malaria whiles he was on Campus so he took to self-medication. He said he visited the school’s hospital after he realized his health was deteriorating by the day. The young man said a doctor at the hospital suspected that his kidney was failing so he referred him to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital for diagnosis and treatment. “When the ailment started I thought it was Malaria so I took some malaria drugs but the sickness persisted. After series of tests at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, it was confirmed that my kidney was failing.” He said.
Mr. Owusu said he was placed on a three times per week dialysis treatment to sustain his fitness. Looking distraught, he said the treatment was later reduced to two times a week because his uncle who is footing his bills struggles to afford the cost which is Four Hundred Ghana Cedis. “I went about my normal duties when I was on the three times in a week treatment but now I have become frail. The treatment in a week costs One Thousand Two Hundred Ghana Cedis and it overburdens my uncle and his son so they had to cut the number of times I go for treatment. My parents are unable to support me because they also struggle to make a living. I barely have a good night sleep and if I drink more than a cup of water, I experience breathing difficulties.” He said.
In an interaction with his 51 year old mother, Mercy Ntiriwa, she said doctors at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital told her that her son has to undergo a transplant to save him. She said the transplant for both of his kidneys would be undertaken by specialists in India at a cost of Two Hundred Thousand Ghana Cedis but they have been able to raise only Thirty Thousand Ghana Cedis. “I used to sell second hand clothes but I have stopped on the advice of doctors because of my poor health. I am not able to contribute to my son’s dialysis treatment because of financial difficulties and raising the money for his transplant has become a challenge.” She said.
Crime Check Foundation, CCF is appealing to individuals and organizations to help save the life of Solomon Owusu with their support to enable him undergo the transplant.
CCF’s Health Check Series is used to solicit support for sick individuals who cannot access medical care because of poverty.
