George Alau's condition worsens

By Sam Wakhakha, :: 13-07-2011

George Alau is still battling cancer.  Before Alau’s arm started to swell, the young man was a final year BIFA student.  Under the Work and Study programme, he would spend most  of his time at the sports department where he was  assigned. 
Alau’s medical condition first came to the attention of The Standard when he wrote to the chaplain explaining his condition. He apealed for financial help from fellow students. Then, it was never imagined that Alau could be suffering from cancer.
Alau would have joined his classmates later in October  this year to celebrate his graduation. But the future  now remains vague as he needs constant medical attention.
Asked whether he misses his classmates and friends, Alau cannot hold back the tears. Clearly, his battle with the disease has gone beyond the physical.
 Even after the amputation of his arm, Alau’s health condition was not about to improve.
 Last week, it was confirmed that the cancer which claimed his arm, had now spread to the lungs. He has now developed a chronic cough, which he says gives him sleepless nights.
“Breathing is difficult and I cough all the time. I normally try to constantly take water to ease the situation. I hardly sleep at night,” narrates Alau.
He says that he does not know when his condition will get better but he has hope that one time he will be fine. At the moment, he is undergoing treatment in Mulago hospital but regularly comes to UCU to check on his friends who he says he misses so much.
Alau’s poor  health condition has drained his family of financial resources. George says his family has so far spent over 17 million shillings. His father had to sell the family house in Soroti town to raise money to foot the medical bills.
His young brother was also forced to postpone going to university due to Alau’s condition. Alau’s mother who is taking care of him in Mulago hospital has developed high blood pressure due her son’s condition.
“Everything in our family is at a standstill. My father called me the other day saying there was no more money in my account. All the money is now finished yet I need 60,000 shillings for tablets every four days. I do not know what is going to happen,” says Alau as he wipes his tears.
Worse still, he says his parents are peasants who just live off the land.
Alau has not given up on completing his BIFA degree. He hopes to come back and complete it in future.
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