Senior educationist and administrator, Olive Ayo Birabi, is unwell, her family confirms in a message calling for her support. Nalongo. DOSA. Senge. Mai. That’s how many know Birabi. A dedicated educator, social justice advocate, friend of children and young people, and counsellor. Those who may know her or have gone through her capable and motherly hands say Birabi spent over three decades pouring into young people as a teacher at Nabisunsa Girls School, Nabumali High School, Mengo Senior Secondary School and as lecturer and senior administrator at Makerere University and Uganda Christian University. Her last posting (in 2019) was as Director of Student Affairs (DOSA) at Uganda Christian University.
However, as life (unfortunately) sometimes turns out, Birabi is unable to work and this has been on for some time. She was diagnosed with rheumatic heart disease at the Uganda Heart Institute. Due to this, she has been unable to work or pursue her social justice passions as her health deteriorated. Yet, she has medical bills to attend to, including support funds.
On top of these, she requires an urgent life-saving heart surgery at Sheba Medical Centre in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Against the above background, the family seeks support to raise $80,000 required for the surgery and associated hospital bills.
“We currently do not have health insurance to meet the costs. The medical expenses are back breaking. We never thought that we would be in this position, no one ever thinks they will be. Or at least, we all hope and pray not to be. Yet, here we are asking for a miracle,” part of a message from the Birabi family reads.
The message adds: “To know Olive is to love her, and we’re so grateful for everyone who has reached out to the family. We truly appreciate any support given to us during this difficult time to offset some of the financial hardships from this situation. Please include Olive in your thoughts and prayers on her road to recovery and reclaiming her life! Anything you can donate to her would be going to someone who would never ask, but could genuinely use every bit of it!”
Olive has been married to Dr. Allan Kenneth Birabi for 36 years. Together, they have built a life with four children and two sweet grandchildren.