“About ten years ago Tumurebire started feeling abdominal pains. He went to hospital where he was diagnosed with bilateral direct inguinal hernia,” our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF) shares. Tumurebire is now 71-years-old, a father of 13, and is in need of treatment again.
Tumurebire had surgery in Uganda when he was first diagnosed and his church paid for his operation. “Eight years after surgery he developed another hernia in his right inguinal area, but he never reported this hernia to hospital because he knew he couldn’t afford to pay for his treatment and the Church wouldn’t pay for him again as he is no longer serving as a Catechist. Due to pain he is unable to lift heavy items and he can neither bend nor walk fast. He cannot dig either. He came to Virika Hospital to seek help after hearing about the Watsi program,” shares AMHF. “His income is very little because he gets it from selling bananas from his farm. Besides looking after his own family he also cares for three children of his late brother,” continues AMHF.
With $220, Tumurebire will undergo surgery to have his hernia repaired so that it no longer causes him pain or puts him at risk of rupture. Tumurebire shares, “I hope to start a retail shop. I don’t want to continue digging for fear of getting another hernia.”