Abasa Gesa is a married male with 8 children aged 54 yrs from Nawoja Ward Budaka T/C Budaka District. Abasa developed a swelling which he suspects to be cancerous on the nipple 20 years back which he could scratch due to itching and it could bleed. Each part scratched could form a scar which scars multiplied. Eventually the whole breast was affected with an inner swelling which appeared like a tumor. Agasa got treatment in a clinic that had a part time surgeon who operated it by removing the tumor who referred to it as a skin infection.
. A month later, the tumor reappeared at the time he had not even a penny to go to hospital. With time, he got some money by selling some of his food crops at home planted and harvested by the family members and went to Tororo Hospital for second surgery where the tumor was removed that had grown. The tumor still reappeared and spent 3 years without treatment yet it was expanding.
In 2008 Abasa went to Mbale Regional Referral hospital where he had another operation of removing the tumor. While at the Regional Referral Hospital Mbale, a biopsy was recommended on suspect of having cancer which had to be taken from Mulago Hospital in Kampala which is about 250 km from his home in Budaka. Due to lack of money to finance his treatment, transport and upkeep while in Hospita, Abasa never turned up for the biopsy as it was recommended.
Abasa lost guts of going back toMbale Regional Referral Hospital mainly due to fear for failure of having gone to Mulago as had been recommended on arguments that if asked by the doctors about the Mulago treatment, had nothing to say so stayed home for a long time in great pain. In 2010 Abasa went back in Masaba wing in Mbale Regional Referral Hospital to seek treatment as was becoming anemic due to the continuous bleeding from the scratches.
Not until November 2011 when UCRF Budaka in partnership with BUDINASO ( )and KWA(Kadama Widows Association), was visited , used to offer counseling and worked out a possibility to transport him to Mulago Hospital for treatment, transfusion, biopsy and further management of the disease . UCRF Budaka in partnership with a local Radio and TV station that is Step Fm and TV Abasa’s case was presented seeking contribution for his treatment which yielded empty promises.
A number of tests were required like biopsy, blood transfusion which were taken and the chest x-ray and CBC were pending. He was also being prepared for Radio Therapy a week before he required to be discharged due to sighting over staying in Mulago which is far away from his home and relatives who could care for him. Abasa was discharged from Mulago Hospital in March 2012 under his persistent request. He has totally lost hope and is looking for money to buy food supplements which are floating the market from the different company like green world, GNLD which is so expensive. The children are financially incapacitated and cannot give a hand to offer medical treatment to their father.
Compiled by Gorret Nabukenya
UCRF Volunteer
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