When Mary Naikumi was diagnosed with breast cancer she didn’t think of selling off her properties but rather spending her life’s savings to get the treatment she needed. Back in 2014, Naikumi a well-paid lecturer at Mbarara University Science and Technology was in shock as she was diagnosed with breast cancer. At first, the 42-year-old never knew how costly the diagnosis would be. “I was happy to get free thermotherapy from Mulago the first time but you need a lot of support to get treatment in addition to that and it is very expensive. So along the way by the time I finished the six courses I was down to poverty, all my resources had gone down. And it seemed like I was well a little bit.” Said, Naikumi Mary – NSSF Friends with benefits candidate.
Unfortunately, when her husband got to know about Naikumi’s condition, he filed for divorce in Court a request that was granted. “He had actually taken me to Court for divorce saying he wanted to divorce, I think he was not interested in a sick wife. It was emotionally breaking in that sometimes I don’t wish to talk about it because personally am not very strong.” In 2016, Naikumi was enrolled on quinol therapy and her breast burst after a lump was discovered in her right breast. “...it occurred and what it did, it burst my right breast. So there is was I had a very big wound, when I went back to Mulago they said it is a rare occurrence that is very difficult and challenging to manage. And if it has done this then probably it has really taken you on.”
After a series of cancer medication, Naikumi ran short of funds to continue with her treatment. Naikumi was divorced despite her being pregnant. “Yes, Dad has walked on in 2011, he left me pregnant with Emma six months. The first two loved their Dad so much, they enjoyed his company home so when he exited, they became so emotional, keen on me; Mummy we go and look for Daddy and I was like you can’t look for somebody who you don’t know where they are.”
Left with no choice, Naikumi applied for her benefits from the National Social Security Fund. Although she had not reached the retirement age of 55 years, the worker's body granted the request because of her condition. “If I had not got NSSF money I would not have afforded the decent treatment, I would not have a place called home today. It came in at a critical point and it put a number of things in line in that today we have a hope.” Naikumi is now constructing her own home in Kawuku in Wakiso district to raise funds that can support her children’s education. “This has really put a firm ground for my children, they are doing their school well and I see them with a home, in case I die today or later at least nobody is going to chase them from here because this is titled land, this is their mother’s land. I was their hope, I was what they were looking at now, I have to stay and that is one thing that gives me hope.”
Her life is generally getting better having acquired arms’ sock that the arm presses and stops swelling. All her savings is now finished, she, however, relies on her salary she gets from Mbarara University of Science and Technology as a lecturer. “I don’t have money now, money is finished actually and I have this project and I have to keep a good diet because the kind of cancer I had they say it re-occurs in the science.” Naikumi is still battling with breast cancer having received her secondary breast cancer diagnosis early this year.
