UG medical students solicit funds for sick colleague

The University of Ghana Medical Students Association (UGMSA) is appealing to the public to donate towards the urgent surgery of a medical student of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi who is suffering from a malignant tumour.

Malignant tumours are cancerous and can spread to other tissues. As cancerous tumours grow, cancer cells can break off and travel throughout the body, forming new tumours.

This is different from benign tumours which form in only one spot without spreading to surrounding tissues.

Report

A medical report the association made available to the Daily Graphic indicates that the 21-year-old Rita Adjoa Tawiah Abodoh, a fourth-year medical student, has developed a malignant tumour in her right pelvic bone and requires urgent surgery.

A CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis showed a fast spreading cancer of the bone. The organs in the pelvis (bladder, womb and ovaries) seem unaffected.

Speaking to the Daily Graphic , a representative of the association, Mr Justice Obeng Manu, said the estimated cost for the surgery was €150.000 (approximately GH¢1.1 million).

However, he said, the UGMSA was hoping to raise a minimum of GH¢100,000.

“Kindly come to the aid of a potential medical doctor who upon completion of her training will be of help to other vulnerable people.

“The MoMo numbers include 0549816346, 0555466766 — Philip Kobina Abodoh. The bank account number 3900710 with the branch Code: 037 at Absa Bank (Ghana) Ltd, Cape Coast branch,” he said.

Mr Manu said the association was touched by the plight of their fellow student, although from another institution, when it learnt about her condition and decided to support the Medical Students Association of KNUST, the family and other stakeholders to raise the funds.

He said UGMSA, therefore, created the mobile money and bank payment platforms to facilitate the public fundraising.

Medical report

The medical report, dated December 18, 2020, was signed by Dr Yvonne Adofo-Aaamoah for Dr Kingsley Doku, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Cape Coast School of Medical Sciences (UCCSMS), and Consultant Trauma & Orthopaedic Surgeon.

It was addressed to the KNUST’s Director of Health Services of the University Health Services.

The report said Miss Abodoh had a 10-month history of a progressively worsening right knee pain and ipsilateral groin pain.

“Thorough clinical assessment with imaging (CT scan of abdominopelvic region) revealed an aggressive bony lesion with lytic bony destruction and significant soft tissue component, in keeping with osteosarcoma.”

The association described Miss Abodoh as brilliant, affable and bubbly.

“Kindly come to the aid of a potential medical doctor who upon completion of her training will be of help to other vulnerable people. There is an urgent need to save her life from this life-threatening tumour,” it said.