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Help needed to treat patient with paralysis
Winny Acio (R) attends to her mother, Sarah Akello at their home in Ogengo village, Lira Municipality. Photo by Bill Oketch.
Forty-eight-year-old Sarah Akello from Lira District has been suffering from paralysis since August 2013.
Akello, who previously worked as a produce dealer in Lira Town, is suffering from paraplegia, a paralysis that affects the body from the waist down.
According to the mother of six, the misfortune struck her on August 1, 2013, when a vehicle she was travelling in lost control and overturned on Lira-Soroti highway, leaving her with a severe injury around her waist.
“We were coming back from Chwagere market in Dokolo when a vehicle we were travelling in lost control and overturned at Iguli Primary School.
About 127kgs of soya beans fell on my waist and nearly tore it apart, causing a lot of pain,” she said.
“During the accident I lost Shs2.8m, seven bags of simsim, two bags of groundnuts, three bags of maize and two bags of soya beans.”
Following the accident, Akello was among 10 people who were rushed to Dokolo Health Centre IV in critical condition before being referred to Lira Regional Referral Hospital for medication.
To undergo an operation, she has to be taken to Mulago hospital but the family lacks sufficient funds and is now seeking financial assistance.
Currently, Akello lies in a state of hopelessness and helplessness at her uncle’s place at Ogengo village, Ireda East parish in Central Division, Lira Municipality. She cannot walk and is unable to do anything.
Twenty-six-year-old Winny Acio says since the tragedy befell the family two years ago, their relatives have abandoned her mother.
“I provided the necessary support to her at Lira Regional Referral Hospital till she was brought home because we had failed to take her to Mulago hospital due to lack of finances,” she said.
“Initially we thought we would raise some funds to take her to Mulago but it has been so challenging. The few people we thought could help us did not give us any support.”
Ojwina Division chairman, Mr Emmanuel Ebong Opeto, who is related to the family, said: “If a woman is sick it’s the responsibility of the husband to take care of her.”
Akello’s husband, Denis Okello, claimed he had done his part as a husband, adding that they separated two years ago.
How you can help
To help, the family can be reached on mobile: 0755 290 628 or 0783 955 655 and 0781 517 375.
