Cancer Patient, Cries Out For Help As LUTH Demand For N3million
Miss Rita Ebele Mogekwu
A National Diploma (ND) graduate from Ibadan Polytechnic and fashion designer, Miss Rita Ebele Mogekwu who hails from Ubulu-Uku in Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State has passionately appealed to kind hearted members of the public to save her life currently being threatened by cervical cancer. She urgently needs Financial assistance.
According to the estimated cost of treatment already given to her at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, she needs to pay about N3million to enable her undergo radiation and chemotherapy treatment urgently in order to prevent a possible spread to other parts of the body.
The 49-year-old Mogekwu who studied public administration told Atlanticnewsonline in Lagos on Tuesday that her problem began sometime in December, 2023 when she started having some abdominal pain which became severe in January, 2024.
Due to the severity of the pain, she decided to go for X-ray where she was recommended for MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)test. Subsequently, she went to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) Ikeja to see a gynaecologist.
Regrettably, she could not locate any gynaecologist during that period. She continued taking pain relieve drug but in February, 2024 the abdominal pain increased in intensity and she could not keep the matter to herself alone but to see an aunty who subsequently took her to see her personal doctor.
Narrating her ordeal in a tone that manifestly revealed the deep pain she is currently passing through, Mogekwu said that her aunty’s doctor while recommending some tests for her, asked her to continue with the pain relieving drugs. The doctor also referred her to Mecure centre at Oshodi for CT (Computed Tomography) scan, MRI and ultra-sound scan.
According to her, the scan detected the malignancy associated with cancer. Due to this, she was referred to LASUTH where she had to undergo series of tests again. The last of the test was cervical test which incidentally detected the cervical cancer.
“When the result came out, the Oncologist said that they did not have the facility at LASUTH. I was therefore referred to LUTH. That was in April this year,” she said.
At LUTH, she was taken to NSIA, which is the cancer centre and on getting there, she was asked to do MRI again and also repeat the abdominal CT scan after she had paid N50,000 consulting fee. “To even raise the amount was a difficult task,” she remarked, but somehow she pulled through.
The MRI and CT scan which were conducted in a privately owned facility located somewhere in Suru-Lere area of Lagos cost her N210,000 which she eventually paid through some divine intervention.
The essence of these tests was to ascertain if the cancer has spread to other parts of her body but according to Mogekwu, “,to the glory of God, the result came out fine as it is only the cervical area that is affected.” However, due to the severe pain she is currently passing through, doctors at LUTH have recommended that the radiation and chemotherapy treatment begins immediately but only after about 75% of the estimated cost must have been paid.
The emotionally down Rita Ebele Mogekwu, who is an orphan, with no child from a failed marriage does not have this kind of huge amount. She is now putting her trust in God and kind hearted individuals to come to her aid urgently to save her life from the cancerous condition.
With a very strong desire to fulfill her mission on earth, Mogekwu told Atlanticnewsonline that she would not like to die now, saying: “I want to live. I do not want to die with this cancer.”
Please, any financial assistance to this patient can be sent to her personal account:. MOGEKWU RITA EBELE, ZENITH BANK SAVINGS ACCT . NO. 2420916141
She can also be reached on 08034926827
