The Management of Crime Check Foundation (CCF), a Non-Governmental Organisation has supported Madam Miracle Sherifatu Abolayo, a 35-years Lupus patient to purchase an Oxygen Concentrator Machine.
The patient is being managed for systematic Lupus Erythematosus complicated by Interstitial Lung Disease, a non-specific interstitial pneumonitis.
The above condition is an autoimmune disorder with a multi-systematic involvement.
The patient, currently has a Lung involvement affecting her quality of life with episode of infective exacerbations, which further worsen her pulmonary function.
Mr Ibrahim Oppong Kwarteng, the Executive Director of CCF presenting cash donation, said the machine would cost GHC8,500.00
He said a benevolent individual of the patient was able to raise an amount of GHC5,000.00 and needed an addition of GHC3,500.00, which the Foundation was adding.
“We have also given her GHC2,000.00 for her upkeep,” he said.
The Executive Director said the Foundation was able to donate to the patient through the support of their partners and donors.
He called on the public to show the patient some compassion and love to enable her survive the condition.
He commended the donors and partners for their continuous support to the vulnerable in society and appealed for more support for the patient for her regular check-ups, reviews and purchase of medication.
He said the support formed part of the Foundation’s Health Check Series to solicit support for individuals, who were unable to meet their healthcare needs.
Madam Abolayo, who has difficulty in breathing expressed gratitude to the management of the Foundation and the donors for the support rendered to her to manage her condition.
She told the Ghana News Agency that she has been in and out of the hospital on several occasions before she was finally hospitalised for a month and half.
She said due to her condition, she was on oxygen but due to the bills, she asked the doctors to discharge her for fear of not being able to pay.
She said initially, when she got to the hospital, nurses and doctors, who were unaware of her condition thought she has been infected with the COVID-19 but she told them it was not.
“I had all the symptoms of COVID due to the condition affecting my Lungs but it was not COVID-19,” she added.
The patient said the hospital eventually convinced her and took her to an isolation Centre just to save her from contracting the virus, because of her underlying conditions.
Madam Abolayo said she was in the isolation Centre for 21 days, after which she asked the doctors to discharge her, because “l cannot pay the hospital bills, but doctors advised that it will not be a good idea to discharge me”.
According to medical report, the patient requires a home oxygen therapy to support her low oxygen saturation levels to prevent compromising the other organs in her body, which requires oxygen to function.
It said she would also need certain immunosuppressive medication to halt and prevent further worsening of her underlying conditions.
“She will need to be reviewed by both the Rheumatologists and Pulmonologists at regular scheduled intervals,” it added.
GNA