A 21-year-old woman, Udochi Chimezie, is in urgent need of N40 million for a kidney transplant after being diagnosed with bilateral kidney failure, prompting her family and a non-governmental organisation, Akoli Imenyi Ambassadors, to appeal for public assistance.

Udochi, a native of Akoli Imenyi in Bende Local Council of Abia State, is receiving treatment at Asaba Specialist Hospital in Delta State, where doctors have recommended an urgent kidney transplant.

She was diagnosed with bilateral kidney failure in January 2026 and immediately commenced dialysis.

According to her mother, Chinyere Chimezie, she underwent dialysis twice in the first week following the diagnosis but has since required treatment once a week.

Financial difficulties have, however, sometimes forced the family to postpone sessions until every two weeks. Each dialysis session costs N70,000, an amount her mother said they can no longer afford consistently.

Chinyere disclosed that the family missed a scheduled dialysis session in the week before she recounted their ordeal because they had run out of money. She added that doctors recommended a kidney transplant in January 2026 and advised that it be carried out before January 2027.

Recounting their experience, Chinyere, who has been raising her four children largely on her own since separating from her husband, broke down in tears as she appealed for help.

“They told us that both of her kidneys are no longer functioning and that she urgently needs a transplant, which will cost millions.”

Right now, we cannot even afford the weekly dialysis. We haven’t been able to go for dialysis this past week because there is simply no money left,” she said.

A farmer from Okpanam in Delta State, Chinyere said she relocated from her village to Asaba to care for her daughter, who lives with her maternal grandmother.

To support the family, she sells yams at Cable Market, near the River Niger, but said the proceeds were insufficient to meet the growing cost of Udochi’s treatment.

“Please, compassionate Nigerians should help me and my children. My daughter is just 21 years old and has suffered so much. I don’t have anything or anyone else to turn to. Please help us so that God will reward you and bless the work of your hands,” she pleaded.

The president of Akoli Imenyi Ambassadors, Imenyi Okezie, said the organisation was seeking N40 million to cover the cost of the transplant, ongoing dialysis, medications and other essential hospital expenses.

He described Udochi as a young woman with a promising future and urged Nigerians to help prevent financial hardship from cutting short her life.

“We are calling on compassionate Nigerians, religious organisations, public-spirited individuals and well-meaning groups to support this urgent medical appeal. Every contribution, no matter how small, can help give Udochi another chance at life,” the group said.

The organisation also urged Nigerians to keep Udochi and her family in their prayers as efforts continue to raise the funds needed for her treatment.

Members of the public willing to support her treatment can make donations to the account designated by the organisation:

Account name: Akoli Imenyi Ambassadors. Account number: 2048691848. Bank: First Bank Plc.

Further enquiries can be made through Chinyere Chimezie on 09016660824. (The Guardian)