Shadia Nakato, a 26-year-old resident of Misaali Village in Nyendo-Mukungwe Division, Masaka city, is urgently seeking Shs3 million to fund a critical surgery for her five-month-old son, who was born without an an-us.
Nakato recounted that after delivering her baby via caesarean section, she spent three days at Masaka Regional Hospital, unaware that her newborn was unable to pass waste. It wasn’t until a week later, through a traditional healer, that Nakato discovered her baby had not passed stool since birth.
“We initially tried traditional medicine, but nothing worked. We then returned to the hospital, where a CT scan revealed that the baby had no an*us,” Nakato explained. The doctor recommended surgery to create a functioning an-us, allowing the baby to pass stool. Nakato has already spent Shs 900,000 on the first surgery, with two more required.
“The baby needed to weigh 9 kg for the operation. He has already surpassed that, but I still need to raise Shs 3 million,” Nakato said.
Nakato’s husband abandoned her and their child upon learning about the baby’s condition. “He stopped talking to me when the baby was just days old. I’m worried about his whereabouts, especially since I lost my job,” Nakato added.
She is now appealing to well-wishers for financial assistance to cover the cost of the necessary surgery.
Dr. Jude Kabugo, an obstetrician at St. Joseph’s Hospital Kitovu, noted that such cases are rare among women who seek early antenatal care. He also warned expectant mothers against the use of alcohol and dru_gs, as they can cause birth defects similar to the one Nakato’s baby is facing.
