The past six months have been a harrowing ordeal for the family of Mrs. Rita Uche Oji, a teacher and businesswoman, who has been battling severe renal failure. The debilitating illness has rendered her nearly immobile, dependent on others for basic tasks, and facing the grim possibility of death if urgent medical intervention is not received.
Speaking from her hospital bed at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Mrs. Oji, in a voice weakened by pain, made a desperate plea for financial assistance. She requires N35 million to undergo a life-saving kidney transplant in India, a sum that her family, already drained of resources, cannot afford.
“I want to live,” she said, fighting back tears. “I know I still have more than three decades to contribute to society, but I need this kidney transplant to survive. My husband is a civil servant, and we have sold everything, including our property, to keep me alive through dialysis, but it’s not enough.”
Currently undergoing haemodialysis three times a week, a treatment costing nearly N2 million per month, Mrs. Oji’s family has exhausted all avenues for raising the necessary funds. With no other options left, she has issued an emotional SOS to Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Senator Ned Nwoko, and other well-meaning Nigerians to come to her aid.
Mrs. Oji, a native of Ubulu-Uku in Aniocha-South Local Government Area of Delta State, emphasized that time is running out. “I wish to inform the good people of Nigeria that I am facing death because of lack of finance,” she said. “We have spent everything we have, and I have been praying for help since May. I know God wants me to live, and I’m pleading with Nigerians not to let me die.”
Her plea is not only for financial support but also for prayers as she faces this life-threatening challenge. Mrs. Oji’s request for assistance extends to anyone who can help, no matter the amount, as every contribution brings her closer to the surgery that could save her life.
For those willing to assist, donations can be made to Access Bank, account name: Anene Rita Uche, account number: 0700730340. Mrs. Oji can also be contacted directly at 08035727154.
As Mrs. Oji continues to fight for her life, her story is a stark reminder of the heavy toll that severe health conditions can take on individuals and their families, and the critical need for compassionate intervention from the broader community.