The family of Rev Robert Mugabe, a priest attached to the Bishop’s Office in the Diocese of Muhabura, Kisoro district is currently on hunt for 45 million Ugandan shillings to take his 6 months old baby Abaho Abimelech, diagnosed with Ventricular Septal defect to India for Surgery.
According to Uganda Heart Institute cardiac Echo report findings, Abaho is diagnosed with trisomy 21, complete AV canal defect with balanced ventricles. Abaho was referred to India for a surgery slated to be done by 6 months of age, which he made on 18th February 2023.
Annet Tushabomwe Olivious, mother to the victim also a health worker at Rugarama hospital in Kabale Municipality, the heart defects were discovered on new years day after the baby started experiencing difficulties in breathing while they were at home in Kijuguta cell, Butengo ward, Nyanamo town council in Kisoro district.
She said that they took the baby to potters’ village, a children’s health center where the doctor who did a word round and Echo discovered holes in the heart of a baby and referred them to Mulago hospital for specialized treatment.
Tushabomwe adds that Abaho was born last year on 18th August with 2.8 Kilogram, later got difficulties to add weight and felt sick after getting delivered where he started struggling to breast feed hence his weight reducing to 2.4 kilogram. She is now calling upon well wishers for contribution to raise 45 million shillings such that the life of Ahabo is saved.
Arinaitwe Alice Ayebare, a chronic care specialist at Chronic care clinic, Rugarama hospital says that such cases are rarely registered at the hospital revealing that within the past three years they have registered two cases. She noted that Ventricular Septal defects are normally born in babies and that they are usually caused by teratogenic effects.