Evelyn Nakabira Lagu, a
struggling singer, has requested that the government investigate the idea of
funding renal illness treatment at its primary healthcare institutions.
The 41-year-old artist
requires twice-weekly dialysis because he has been battling kidney failure for
more than three years.
The process entails
mechanically removing waste materials and extra fluid from the bloodstream,
which is typically accomplished by the kidneys. The 'Ogumanga' singer claims
that the procedure is rather pricey.
"I have to go twice a week and I spend
about Shs 200k on each session. Lagu stated that it takes around four hours.
"For that reason, I believe we shouldn't
be paying for services like dialysis. Because the medications are also highly
expensive, we should just be paying for those; otherwise, there would be a lot
of pressure. You could die from the stress.
The singer also feels bad for the thousands
of other people with kidney disease who, like her, may not live close to
Kampala and aren't in a position to cover such expenses.
She claims that there were roughly 250 kidney
patients undergoing treatment at the time she began at the hospital units in
Mulago and Kiruddu. She now puts the number at about 1000, many of them very
small children.
How many patients can they
afford? Although I have individuals who are supporting me, not everyone is so
fortunate.
Lagu was speaking to the
media while Shamim Malende, the Kampala District Woman MP, paid her a visit.
The MP commended Lagu for
maintaining her family's well-being despite her predicament and for displaying
amazing fortitude.
Malende stated that in order
to address the issues of patients like Lagu, she needed to hear their stories
about their experiences in government healthcare facilities..
