Hoping for a gift of life during holy month

Mohammed Salim says both his kidneys have stopped working and needs about Dh90,000 for treatment back home in India.

An expatriate who is suffering from kidney disease needs about Dh90,000 for treatment back home in India.

Mohammed Salim, an Indian technician, who was employed with a private company in Abu Dhabi for the last 17 years, said both his kidneys have stopped working. He is now surviving on dialysis.

The 44-year-old lost his job on health grounds. “I lost my job about four months ago, but my sponsors were kind enough to extend my visa and allowed me to stay here for some more time so I could raise funds for my treatment in India,” said Salim.

Currently he attends four-hour dialysis sessions thrice a week at Mafraq Hospital free of cost. He said doctors had advised him to do a kidney transplant. “I have been to Shaikh Khalifa Medical City, but was told only a blood relation with his/her consent can donate a kidney and only then can the transplant be carried out here. Unfortunately I have no relatives here, therefore I decided to go back home for the transplant as my brothers and a close friend have offered to donate the kidney,” he added.

Salim said after contacting hospitals back home, he got the estimates for the transplant and post-transplant treatment and it comes to around Dh90,000.

“I don’t have that kind of money. All my gratuity and financial support have gone towards my bank loans. I am left with no money. My friends have been helping me out for the last three months. Now I appeal to my brothers and sisters to extend their Zakat funds. It is a holy month, Ramadan, the month of charity, and I am sure I will get support from my Muslim brothers and sisters,” he said.

He also appealed to charitable organisations, philanthropists and individuals for support. Those who want to help him can call him on 055-1457579. Salim said he developed the problem about eight months ago and did not take it seriously until he was diagnosed and found that both his kidneys had stopped functioning.

“I have been suffering from high blood pressure, which caused the kidney failure,” he explained.

Salim is married with a 10-year-old daughter. In addition to his wife and daughter, he also supports his younger brother and sister. He has seven brothers, six married, and four sisters of whom three are married.

nissar@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE