No help for man with swollen testicles

By: TUYEIMO HAIDULA

A 38-year-old man with swollen testicles for the past three years has blamed state hospitals of failing to treat his condition.

The man, Rehabeam Shikongo, said thoughts of suicide appears to be his only solution.
“Everyday I get thoughts of ending my life because I cannot continue living like this. My manhood has been killed and does not function any longer,” said Shikongo.
He is in need of financial assistance for medical treatment.  
Shikongo recently told The Namibian that his life changed after he fell sick in February 2010.
He does not know what condition it is, all he could say was that his manhood is swollen. He says he is always in pain, especially when he walks.
“I got married at the end of 2009 and before I could plan to build a family with my wife, I got sick shortly after getting married and since then I have been unable to have sexual intercourse. This  has put a strain on my marriage and we have not been able to live in peace because every night when I go to bed I am burning up and unable to sleep,” he said.
He was dismissed from his job three years ago because he could not continue working due to the debilitating pain.
Shikongo who worked in the construction industry said he was the breadwinner of the family since his wife is unemployed; she only gets temporary jobs as an assistant in different companies.
“I came out in the open to seek for financial assistance on October 2012 and to this day, some people come to me, making fun of me. The only support I have is from my wife,” he continued. “My mother passed away in 2011 and my father passed on in 1991.”    
Shikongo said he had visited the Katutura Hospital several times which referred him to the Windhoek Central Hospital and there he was told to visit a private doctor which he cannot afford because he is unemployed.  
“In 2011 my wife and I visited a private doctor for treatment and I was told that the doctor could only attend to me if I pay N$ 1600 for consultation itself, which we could not afford. We have not gone back for further assistance.”
He said he visited Onandjokwe Hospital as well and there he was referred to the Oshakati Hospital where he was given Panado and Bruphen to ease his pain, but the medicine did not help him to get well.  
The Namibian government has a policy that states that anyone in need of medical attention but is unable to pay, will be treated at government cost.
When asked to comment why Shikongo has not received treatment for so long and why he was being referred to a private doctor, Dr Sarah Shalongo, senior medical superintendent at the Windhoek Central Hospital said the hospital has urology specialists who are unable to diagnose and manage urogenital problems effectively.
She further said the hospital does not refer state patients to private hospitals without taking the financial implications into account.
“Thus whenever a state patient is referred by the hospital to a private health institution or a private doctor for treatment, the hospital will be liable for all the patient’s medical expenses.”
Shalongo told The Namibian to advise the patient to visit the hospital’s urology clinic on Tuesday or visit the office of the medical superintendent for further assistance.
Meanwhile, Shikongo pleaded: “Please help me with the little that you have so I can save up and get treated. I cannot continue living like this.”
His banking details are: Rehabeam Shikongo 12002013922 NedBank Katutura Branch, he can also be reached on his cellphone number-0812204106.

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