By Kabaraji Saka Richard
Picture this, you are a single mother to only one daughter who is in form one and she is battling both high blood pressure and kidney failure stage four; this is the situation that Consalata Ambesta is in.
Consolata is a mama mboga earning less than Ksh400.
Her daughter Hanifa Namujazi who aspires to be a kidney specialist to help other children with her condition says that her condition started one year ago after she noticed some changes in the way she handled things including fatigue and heavy panting on doing simple tasks.
“I was born a normal child but after being diagnosed with high blood pressure and being given medication is when it was discovered that my kidneys were failing due to overload from the pressure drugs.”
The form one girl says the condition had greatly affected her day-to-day undertakings including education something that has been attested by her teachers at AIC Kapkoi Sisal Secondary School in Trans Nzoia county.
Dialysis twice a week
“I am a bright student but I miss most of my classes as I have to attend dialysis twice a week and the process leaves me very weak, forcing me to only attend classes on Mondays. This is something that has really made me drop to being a D student after only attempting two papers in my exams,” Hanifa Namujazi said.
The School Deputy Wilminer Etyang says despite the girl’s challenges, she has shown courage and resilience to continue with her education.
She remains optimistic about succeeding in her quest to be a nephrologist and help her fellow children with such kinds of diseases.
“The girl is bright. She only lacks support as she comes from a poor background. I urge anybody willing to help her do so for us to get the next kidney specialist from our vicinity,” Etyang said.
According to Doctor Elvis Barasa, the condition that Hanifa Namujazi is battling if detected early, can be easier to manage.
“The condition is manageable when it is still at a high-pressure level so as not to overload the kidneys due to the drugs associated with the conditions,” Barasa explained.
For now, Namujazi is continuing with her dialysis as she looks forward to aiding in depositing the needed Ksh2 million and a donor to see her undergo a transplant.
“I have exhausted my NHIF allocation and it is only through the aid of Kenyans that I will be able to remain healthy and realize my dream of being a medic.
