Fatuma Aden, a student of medicine at Kampala
International University in Uganda /STEPHEN ASTARIKO
The lecture halls of Kampala International University hold the dreams of Fatuma Aden, Garissa County's top KCSE candidate in 2021, who is fighting to keep alive her ambition of becoming a doctor.
What began as a joyous celebration of academic success has spiralled into a desperate plea for help, as financial hurdles and unforeseen crises threaten to derail her medical studies in Uganda.
"Being able to pursue this dream at the university level, despite the challenges, is truly a dream realised. But that dream is now teetering on the brink."
Her path to medical school initially led her to Sudan in 2022, thanks to the generosity of well-wishers who helped her overcome financial difficulties in Kenya and secure admission to the International University of Africa.
Fatuma scored an A- in the KCSE exams.
However, destiny dealt a cruel blow.
"The outbreak of civil war in Sudan in April 2023 forced me and thousands of fellow students to flee for our lives. I was fortunate to survive the traumatic experience and return home to Kenya, though the emotional toll remains. This forced me to abandon my studies and remain out of school for months,” she recounted.
Despite the harrowing escape and subsequent interruption, Fatuma refused to surrender her dream. With renewed support from well-wishers, in July 2024 she secured admission to Kampala International University, where she is now in her second year of medical studies, having already completed an additional foundational year.
Yet, just as stability seemed within reach, her financial lifeline snapped. Previous donors withdrew support due to what they termed high fees, and even a scholarship from the Islamic Development Bank was withheld due to a restriction requiring admission to a Kenyan public university.
"Unfortunately, my financial situation remains challenging, and I am now at risk of discontinuing my studies due to the set restriction by the sponsor," she reveals, the weight of her predicament palpable.
"My key motivation is to prevent the loss of lives in my Northern Kenya region which has a scarcity of medical staff, especially female doctors," she said.
She speaks of the heartbreaking tragedy of losing women and girls due to lack of access to healthcare, particularly during childbirth, and the exodus of non-local medical staff due to insecurity.
"I have felt helpless on several occasions as a young girl watching my father suffer from asthma and high blood pressure attacks since it is unaffordable to have regular checkups or monitoring," she adds.
Her ambition is to address these critical gaps and improve health services, especially for mothers and children.
"Any support will allow me to focus on my education without the constant worry of financial strain, both for myself and my family. It will enable me to excel in my studies and continue my journey toward becoming a doctor," she pleads.
"Your support will not only alleviate my financial burden but will also serve as a beacon of hope, allowing me to focus fully on my studies and achieve the success that we all envision, just as I aspired while emerging as one of the top students," Fatuma says.
