How greater Nebbi community plans to save life of a cancer-stricken girl

An extensive campaign to save the life of a cancer-stricken 15 years old Gloria Alizabeta, from Thatha Cell,  Thatha division in  Nebbi Municipality is gathering momentum amongst Greater Nebbi Community. #WhisperEyeNews

The support that is geared towards saving the life of 15 years  Alizabeta, who is said to have dropped out of school from Primary Two in Namthin Primary School in Nebbi Municipality because of her health complication, is garnering support from wel_ wishers in greater Nebbi, and a call has been made to everyone including those ones in the diaspora to stand in the gap.

Benedict Amula Acayo, a resident of Thatha cell, Thatha division Nebbi Municipality who is a neighbor to the Alizabeta’s family said, the parents couldn’t foot bills for her treatment.

She said she took the initiative of sharing Alizabeta’s picture with friends and that is how well-wishers like Ms Nelly Silvia Pithua, who is currently the coordinator for the fundraising campaign came in to mobilize for support.

“This girl was studying in Namthin Primary School, she developed a foreign body from behind. It was black and hairy. The waist became too big, I took a picture and shared it with friends” Acayo said.

Some well-wishers have formed a team called Abnormal Growth Management Team for Greater Nebbi that encompasses the districts of Pakwach, Nebbi, Nebbi Municipality, and Zombo to stand in the gap for the family of Alizabeta Gloria that are financially incapacitated to deal with the dire condition of the young girl.

 “Through this notice, we would like to inform the greater public that following the previous notice this team sent out in order to join hands in giving information about the needy family suffering from cancer & abnormal cell growth in our community. we have received a number of different cases and we call for your pardon and joining hands in support & resource mobilization at any level & capacity you can afford when the call will come so that we can put back hope to the hopeless in our Community. In this photo is of a young girl called ALISABETA GLORIA from Thatha Division Nebbi Municipality referred to the National referral hospital Kirudu Kampala with God everything is possible Thanks, together we can,” The team said in a statement issued on the social media platform Watsup.

The mobilizer for Abnormal Growth Management Team for Greater Nebbi, Sam Kumakech told Whisper Eye News, that the team is appealing for more support across aboard.

Without divulging more details, He Said more cancer cases are trickling to the team’s management daily.

” We have received a number of cases coming in. Our challenge is finance because we rely on the little that we get from well wishers. We call upon everyone including organizations to step in such that we help the community” Kumakech Stressed.

The Victim Gloria Alizabeta started experiencing this strange disease when she was aged 3, but it was mild, Lately, the condition worsened.

Alizabeta dropped out of school at Nebbi Namthin Primary School but struggled to cope with life because of her condition. At a certain point, her body started attracting flies because of a bad smell according to the neighbors.

To make it worse, her friends would make fun of her in school which frustrated her to the core.

Her 80-year-old father Alfred Oluba and 60 years old mother Acayo, wouldn’t manage the daughter’s condition because the family is financially incapacitated.

She hardly sit and excrete because the tumor had grown backward according to a well-wisher, who identified Alizabeta and took the initiative to inform fellows about her complication.

The coordinator for the fundraising campaign for Alizabeta Silvia Nelly Pithua said” We had to arrange for the girl with Mr. Emilio Odongo, The President of the forum for the development of greater Nebbi, Sam Kumakech the mobilizer . Gloria left Nebbi for Kirundu and reached safely”, Pithua said before appealing for more support from people of west Nile and other places.

Dr Wilfred Omirambe, Ms Nebbi General Hospital who interfaced with the victim three months ago identified the infection as Sacrococcygeal teratoma.

Omirambe added that after identifying what is causing the complication, the victim was referred to Kirudu Hospital Kampala for better treatment and management.

“I interfaced with that victim about three months ago and we were helping in all ways. After identifying what she was going through, we linked up with Dr Alenyu. She was taken to Kirundu Hospital and as I talk now, I think the diagnosis is done. The major challenge was finance” Omirambe explained before revealing that Nebbi general hospital has also offered some fuel to transport the victim to Kampala.

What is Sacrococcygeal teratoma?

According to some health experts, It’s a tumor that develops before birth and grows from a baby’s coccyx more commonly known as tailbone. It is the most common tumor found in newborns, occurring 1 out of every 35,000_ 40,000 live births worldwide.

The tumor is usually covered with skin, but may be covered by a thin, transparent tissue called a membrane which comes in different sizes. They may grow outward from the back or toward your child’s stomach.

Cancer Trend in Uganda

Cancer is a deeply rooted infection that it’s cases are taking an upward trend in Uganda and it’s projected to reach 40% in 2030 according to Equal Opportunities Commission.

The 2023 report published early this year by Equal Opportunities Commission, indicates that annually,   65000 cancer cases are handled by the Uganda cancer institute. New cancer cases in children and adults recorded at Uganda Cancer Institute has up ticked from 3500 in 2015,  to 7400 in 2021.

As the struggle to save  Gloria Alizabeta takes center stage, the mobilizers say the funds are still small but hope is high.

Well-wishers can reach out to 

Dr Wilfred Omirambe, Ms Nebbi Hospital – 0785675604

Mr Emilio Odongo President FDGN – 0772574315

Ms Pithua Nelly Silvia Cordinater – 0776889216( Mobile Money Donation)

Sam Kumakech Mobilizer – 0779948862