Obra show audience raises over Gh₵100K for 4-year-old girl’s surgery

The OBRA Show on NHYIRA 104.5 FM and Adom TV has raised over GH₵100,000 to support the medical treatment of four-year-old Issah Rashida Wintima, whose painful condition has left her family struggling for years.

Rashida has been battling a serious abdominal condition: diastasis recti developing from omphalocele that has caused her stomach to swell and protrude, leaving her in extreme pain, particularly after eating.

The condition has also placed a heavy burden on her family, sometimes forcing her parents to limit her food intake because of her discomfort.

Her father, Issahaku, a young mechanic from Garu in the Upper East Region, has spent years searching for a solution to his daughter’s condition.

What began as a desperate quest for medical care soon became a painful struggle against financial hardship, repeated hospital referrals and fading hope.

Rashida’s family sought medical attention at Quality Medical Centre in Garu before she was referred to Bolgatanga Hospital. From there, she was referred to Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH), which subsequently referred her to Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi for further treatment.

At KATH, her father was reportedly informed that approximately GH₵300,000 would be required for the surgery and related medical care.

As a young mechanic, Issahaku could not raise the amount. Despite appealing to the Garu District, local media outlets, and other well-meaning individuals, his efforts yielded little success.

The emotional and financial strain eventually took a devastating toll on his family. Issahaku recounted how his wife left him about a year ago amid the difficulties surrounding their daughter’s condition and the constant financial pressure.

With his resources exhausted and hope dwindling, he continued searching for anyone who could help save his little girl.

A turning point came when Issahaku discovered the OBRA Connect Show on Adom TV and reached out for assistance.

After the case was assessed, Rashida, her father and her paternal grandmother travelled from Garu to Kumasi to appear on the OBRA – GET RESULTS programme.

When Host Ohemaa Benewaa allowed them to share their heartbreaking story, it touched the hearts of the programme’s audience, prompting generous donations from people across Ghana and the diaspora.

Through the collective kindness of viewers, listeners, and compassionate individuals, the programme has raised over GH₵100,000 towards Rashida’s surgery and medical care.

For a father who had struggled for years to find help, the donations represent more than financial support. They offer renewed hope that his daughter may finally receive the treatment she desperately needs.

Preparations are reportedly underway for specialists to address Rashida’s condition. Her case has brought renewed attention to the difficulties families face when a child’s medical needs exceed their financial means.

While the amount raised is a significant step towards the reported GH₵300,000 target, further support may still be needed to meet the full cost of her treatment.

The hope is that Rashida will soon undergo the necessary procedure and begin a new chapter of her life—one in which she can eat more comfortably, play freely and enjoy the childhood every child deserves.

For her father, the dream is simple: to see his daughter relieved of pain and given the opportunity to live a healthier, happier life.

OBRA: BEYOND ENTERTAINMENT, A LIFELINE FOR THE NEEDY

The fundraising effort underscores the potential of media to do more than inform, educate and entertain. Through programmes such as OBRA, broadcasting can also mobilise compassion, connect vulnerable families to support and help provide practical solutions to real-life challenges.

Rashida’s story is a reminder that behind every appeal for help is a human life, a family carrying a heavy burden and a future that can be changed through collective kindness.

As donations continue to offer hope, the ultimate victory will be seeing little Rashida receive the treatment she needs and watching her reclaim the joy of childhood.

For Issahaku and his daughter, the journey has been long and painful. But thanks to the generosity mobilised through OBRA, hope is alive again.