Ategeka is a 12-year-old boy from Uganda who is in Primary Four at his school. His best subjects are math, English, and science. He hopes to become a medical doctor in the future. Ategeka’s favorite game is football. His father passed away and his mother is a casual laborer at a tea plantation. She and her children live in the tea plantation quarters.
About one year ago Ategeka developed a painful swelling in his left scrotum, which has kept increasing in size. Due to pain he is unable to walk long distances and is therefore unable to fetch water because the well is far from home. Ategeka’s mother took him to a hospital where he was diagnosed with hydrocele, which is a collection of clear fluid in a thin walled sac present in the scrotum. Surgery was recommended, but she couldn’t afford to pay for it. She decided to give Ategeka herbs, which did not relieve his pain. One of the nurses at that hospital advised her to take Ategeka to Holy Family Virika Hospital, a Watsi care center, for assistance from Watsi. If not treated, Ategeka will continue experiencing pain and discomfort.
$185 will cover the costs of the surgery and care Ategeka needs. After his surgery, Ategeka hopes to continue with his studies and get good grades in class.