Deaf girl abandoned in hospital

Blessing Namara, aged 13 is deaf and gives a sweet smile that shows very white teeth when you approach her hospital bed writes Gladys Kalibbala for New Vision Uganda (20/02/12).

Unfortunately, behind her charming smile hides the misery of a teenage girl who was abandoned at the reception desk of CoRSU hospital, Kisubi on January 15 this year. An unidentified woman reportedly from Mubende district said she was only helping the orphaned girl when she brought her to the hospital.

Sadly before the administration at CoRSU concluded how she could be helped, the woman vanished leaving her behind.

For years, Namara has been moving on her knees and hands because of disabilities in her legs and her hands. With that much friction over time, her limbs have visibly become rough.

Operation

According to Irene Nabalamba, the Public Relations & Program Development Officer at CoRSU, Namara was recently operated on and it is hoped she will be able to walk in the near future.

“Namara is deaf and she also had severe bilateral clubfoot which had never been treated before since her birth,” Nabalamba explained.

She added that communication with her is very difficult.

“She cannot even speak in sign language and has not been able to direct anyone to where her home could be,” Nabalamba noted.

The Hospital has approached several children’s organizations looking after abandoned children but because she is physically disabled and above 10 years, no organization is willing to take her. Other organizations reasoned that, at 13 years, “she is too big”.

Appeal

The Sister of Providence Home Nkokonjeru has agreed to take her in but says she can only provide accommodation.

Namara will have to be taken to a Special Needs school like Bishop Brown in Mukono for a start and later on to Ntinda School for the Deaf for her primary education. This all requires money to pay for school fees, scholastic materials and other basic needs, besides she will need to see an ENT and a speech specialist to examine why she cannot hear or talk.

“All this will cost money and that’s why she needs people who can stand by her during this trying time.”

Nabalamba noted that education is the only way to help her become self-reliant after being abandoned by her family.

According to her, there is need to establish whether Namara can be able to hear or not and asks well-wishers to come forward and take her to ENT professionals.

“That’s why we are appealing to Good Samaritans to come to her aid and take her to school for the deaf,” Nabalamba appealed.

Interest in drawings

Namara spends time making drawings she copies from the TOTO Magazine pull-out of the New Vision paper.

“She seems to be a bright child but since none of us can communicate with her, we cannot tell whether she has ever been to school or not,” explained Nabalamba, adding that the girl is clean and that she used to bath and wash her clothes before the operation.

Nabalamba calls upon government and other actors to come out and help provide free medical care, special needs education and other basic necessities to children with disability.

“Such is the plight of children with disabilities. Many parents abandon them in different places like hospitals, villages and other places where many times they are left to die off,” she observes.

She acknowledges that with good care, such children can also grow up into productive adults.

“Parents should not abandon children with disability. They should instead stand by them as they mature into responsible adults,” Nabalamba concludes.

For any form of assistance towards Blessing Namara , please call +256 782 995 841