October 27, (THEWILL) – A 50-year-old victim of kidney failure, Mr Kenneth Godwin Ekpe, has called on the Akwa Ibom state governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, the state government, as well as well-meaning Nigerians, to come to his aid in realising the sum of N20 million required for his treatment abroad.
Ekpe, a native of Ede-urua village in Eket local government Area, Akwa Ibom state, has cried out when THEWILL visited the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH) on Thursday, explaining that the sum was for a kidney transplant recommended and billed for a hospital in India.
According to him, he is a data collection expert of Network of people Living with HIV/AIDS (NEPWHAN), an NGO operating in the state and he is currently admitted at the UUTH, having been diagnosed of the deadly sickness in 2014.
The father posited that his first kidney transplant which took place 8 years ago, at Max Hospital, India, was successful, however, he was placed on drugs over a long while until he could no longer afford the drugs due to lack of funds.
“I was ill and to my fear and surprise, I was re-diagnosed of another kidney failure.
“After the successful transplant, in 2014, I was placed on medication which I bought till my money got finished and I stop taking the drugs for a while.
Suddenly when I became very sick and visited the hospital, I was re-diagnosed of kidney failure, so now my life is in danger.
“I still have a second chance to live, if I undergo the second kidney transplant, but I need financial help, because as we speak, University of Uyo teaching Hospital has transferred me back to Max Hospital in India where I had the first transplant.
“The definitive treatment of the second transplant was estimated to cost N20,000,000 (twenty million naira) before operation can take place.
“Please, I’m using this medium to beg my dear state governor, His Excellency Udom Emmanuel, the federal government and the general public to assist me, my life is in danger and I’m so afraid, I don’t want to die now, my two boys are still very tender. I need help please.
“Your Excellency, I have been on three times weekly hemodialysis which cost about N35,000 per session and N105,000 per week.
“I have a lot of people who depend on me, if my life is cut off, those people will suffer.
“I spoke to the commissioner for Local government and chieftaincy affairs, who has been a good public officer and he promised to help”, he said.
Confirming the claims, the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital Nephrologist consultant, Dr Bassey Edet Bassey, on behalf of the hospital, confirmed that the cost of treatment was far beyond the patient and his family as it translates to 20m.
On her part, the wife of the victim, Mrs Esther Kenneth Ekpe, said the health status of her husband was critical and has affected their lives negatively.
She, however, appealed to the wife of state Governor, Mrs Martha Emmanuel, to come to her aid.
Mr Ekpe could be reach through;
Contact: 08066094302 and supported via his account details:
Name: Kenneth Godwin Ekpe
Acc name: Eco bank
Acc no: 0201049872
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