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Child dies as $7M lifeline slips out of reach
…Opposition leader hammers government over situation
(Kaieteur News) – Twelve-year-old Marlon Jupiter whose parents were appealing for public donations to secure a bone marrow transplant in Brazil has died.
Multiple sources close to the ailing child confirmed his death. Jupiter was a patient of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) after he was diagnosed with T-Lymphoblastic Lymphoma, an aggressive and life-threatening blood cancer.
Marlon Jupiter
Boy, 12 dies before securing funds for urgent bone marrow transplant. His doctors had advised that his best chance of survival is an urgent bone marrow transplant. However, the reality is that the treatment is not yet available in Guyana and can cost USD $35,000 or $GYD 7,325,000.
US-based medical Charity Saving Hands Emergency Aid (SHEA) had stepped in to assist in raising awareness about his case and help raise funds needed for his travel overseas. The charity had opened a GoFundMe in the child’s name and had shared his story on social media platforms, appealing to the public “to help give Marlon the chance to grow up, chase his dreams, and live the life every child deserves.” However up to last Thursday, SHEA had not raised the funds.
Meanwhile, in a scathing statement, Opposition Leader, Azruddin Mohamed said it is a disgrace that with $161B budgeted this year for the health sector, a child would die due to the lack of $7M. “The PPP government allocated a staggering $161.1 billion to the health sector in 2026, boasting state-of-the-art hospitals, equipment, and system upgrades. Yet, 12-year-old Marlon Jupiter lost his life after battling T-lymphoblastic lymphoma. The required treatment is not available in Guyana. At the time of his passing, his family was struggling to raise just US$35,000 (approximately $7.3 million) to have the surgery abroad,” Mohamed said. “This is a national disgrace. In a budget of over $161 billion, the government could not guarantee $7 million to save a child’s life. The Office of the President received 300 million dollars, while Men on a Mission received 900 million dollars for humanitarian works, and little Marlon’s family was soliciting public generosity to raise 7 million. Millions are routinely spent on conferences, travel, consultations, and questionable procurement where ministers’ kickbacks are way more than 7 million, families are left to beg the public for help in moments of desperation,” Mohamed stated.
He questioned what is the value of building hospitals if critical treatments remain out of reach. “What is the purpose of record-breaking budgets if they cannot save lives? Where services do not exist in Guyana, the state must step in and fund overseas medical treatment, without delay, without bureaucracy, and without families being forced into public fundraising. WIN longs to see a government that will truly put people first and value service above itself. Rest in peace little Marlon. Our condolences to his family,” the statement ended.
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