A mother from Dua Nayire in the Bongo District of the Upper East Region is appealing for financial assistance to raise GH¢93,750 for her one-year-old son, Melvin Akolgo, who has been diagnosed with a hole in the heart.
Melvin, born on June 18, 2025, has been diagnosed with a large ventricular septal defect (VSD), a congenital heart condition that causes an opening between the two lower chambers of the heart.
His mother, Rita Alooyuure Awimll, says the family is unable to raise the amount required for corrective surgery at the National Cardiothoracic Centre of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra.
Speaking on Bolga FM’s Tooma La Dengo Sanga programme, she recounted how Melvin initially fell ill and was taken to the Upper East Regional Hospital for medical attention.
The family was subsequently referred to Tamale, where an echocardiogram confirmed the heart defect. They later sought further medical assistance at Konongo before being referred to Korle Bu for specialised treatment.
According to her, doctors at Korle Bu indicated that the condition could be corrected through surgery, but the procedure would cost GH¢93,750, an amount the family cannot afford.
“I am appealing to everyone in the Upper East Region, especially the Bongo District Chief Executive, the Member of Parliament for Bongo and the Upper East Regional Minister, to come to my aid and help save my son’s life,” she pleaded.
She specifically appealed to the Bongo District Chief Executive, Diana Asoketarige Ayamga, the Member of Parliament for Bongo, Lawyer Charles Bawa-Duah, Upper East Regional Minister Donatus Akamugri Atanga, the Chief Executive Officer of GOIL and other individuals and organisations to support the treatment.
Meanwhile, St. Anne Catholic Parish has joined efforts to mobilise funds for the surgery.
The Chairman of the Parish Council, Peter Maclean Nsoh Abubila, disclosed that the church had raised approximately GH¢4,000 towards the GH¢93,750 target.
He said a WhatsApp group had been created to coordinate donations and encourage individuals to contribute towards the child’s treatment.
Mr Abubila also expressed concern about Melvin’s nutritional condition, explaining that the child needed additional nutritional support to gain weight before undergoing surgery.
According to him, the family had been informed that Melvin needed to weigh at least 10 kilogrammes before the procedure could be performed, but he feared the child currently weighed less than eight kilogrammes.
He therefore appealed for support not only towards the cost of surgery but also to help the family meet the child’s nutritional needs.
Mr Abubila urged individuals, organisations, teachers, health workers, traders, farmers and philanthropists to contribute to the fundraising campaign, stressing that even modest donations could make a difference.
“You don’t have to donate a huge amount of money. Your GH¢10 or GH¢20 means a lot to us. If we all come together, we can raise the money needed to help this little boy,” he appealed.
He also called on the Bongo District Chief Executive, the sitting Member of Parliament and former MP Edward Ababire Bawa to support the family.
With approximately GH¢4,000 raised so far, the family still needs about GH¢89,750 to meet the estimated cost of surgery.
The family and St. Anne Catholic Parish are appealing to residents of Bongo, the wider Upper East Region and Ghanaians across the country to contribute towards Melvin’s treatment.
A1 Radio | 101.1 MHz | Moses Anaba Azubire | Bolgatanga
