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Tag: baby

  • Boko Haram explosion victim Baby Aishat gets reconstructive surgery

    Boko Haram explosion victim Baby Aishat gets reconstructive surgery

    Local and international plastic surgeons have carried out a successful reconstructive surgery on Baby Aishat Ibrahim, the victim of a Boko Haram bomb explosion, whose predicament caught the attention of the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, during a visit to Borno State on July 1.

    Speaking with reporters yesterday at the National Hospital, Abuja, after the Vice President paid an unscheduled visit to check on the recovery status of the baby who was operated upon on Saturday, Prof. Ferdinand Ofodile, the US-based surgeon who led the four-hour surgery, said the operation was successful.

    Ofodile said: “We reconstructed her eyelids by adding flesh from the thigh, and we also did a skin graft to the left arm, freeing it, from its attachment at the armpit caused by the explosion.”

    He said Aishat, who is now 14 months old, sustained extensive burns to the eye, the face and the chest. She also sustained injuries in the left arm and armpit “resulting in the arm being fixed to the body and eyelids destroyed.”

    Ofodile, who is an Emeritus Professor of Medicine from the top-rated Columbia University, New York, said it would take about six months for Aishat’s full recovery, but explained that if the eyelids were not reconstructed it could cause the outright loss of the eyes.

    “When I saw her on Friday, the upper lid was turned inside out. If this was not fixed, over time the eye itself would be lost due to unprotected exposure. So we saved the eyelids and globe by adding skin to the eye lids-upper and lower,” said Ofodile who led two other surgeons, Dr. Chubado Tahir from the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, where the Vice President met the baby for the first time in July and Dr. Cefas Nbaya of the National Hospital, Abuja.

    The US-based surgeon  saidthe team “released the armpit so Aishat can lift up her left arm and recover the full use of her shoulder”.

    He said further surgical operations would be done in the future to improve the baby’s conditions.

    Aishat’s parents, Mr.  and Mrs. Ibrahim Goni Lawani, who also spoke with the reporters yesterday thanked  Osinbajo who paid the cost of the operation.

    Lawani said of the many victims of Boko Haram, his family is privileged that “God touched the Vice President to help our child. We thank President Buhari and the VP, may God bless them and make them remained focussed on why God brought them to power.”

    According to Aishat’s mother, Mariam, “we are happy and relieved, the surgery went well.”

  • Elohor Aisien gets second baby

    Elohor Aisien gets second baby

    The CEO of Prive and Beth Models, Elohor Aisien, is savouring the joy of motherhood. The former Miss Nigeria, UK, has added another bundle of joy to her family. The tiny tot, a baby girl named Chloe, came last week in the UK. She shared the good news on her instagram page. Last September, friends of Elohor Aisien hosted a Hawaii-themed baby shower for the Beth Model Africa and Elite Model Look, Nigeria CEO in Lagos.

    Elohor and husband, Owen, earlier had a five-year-old daughter, Zoe.

  • Iwuanyawu expects new baby

    Iwuanyawu expects new baby

    When the billionaire politician and publisher of Champion newspaper, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyawu, lost his first wife some years ago, he didn’t give up on the chance of a second marriage. At 74, the business tycoon reclaimed his life from the clutches of grief by marrying a 26-year-old woman two years after he lost his wife.

    The popular politician is currently on cloud nine as his stunning wife is heavily pregnant with their first baby. The young woman, Frances, is in her second trimester and is currently in the US to have her baby.

    The PDP chieftain is said to be highly excited about the development.

  • Will Abia, Imo help this baby?

    Will Abia, Imo help this baby?

    If the three children of the Onumaraekwus, the youngest has an abnormally swollen and aching head. Chibuike Miracle Onumaraekwu, nearing two years old, needs N5m for an urgent surgery. His father, Iheanyichukwu Onumaraekwu, a small-time trader at Ariaria Market, Aba, Abia State, cannot raise the money, nor can his wife. All the cash they had has been used up in the search for their boy’s cure. They have moved from one hospital to another and from one church to the other. Their effort has yet to yield any fruit.

    Imo State-born Onumaraekwu has appealed to the Abia State government as well as that of Imo to help save his son who was diagnosed with Hydrocephalus, a condition responsible for the swollen head.

    Miracle is almost always lying down because he can hardly sit. This has worsened his condition as bed-sores often break out of his head.

    “I live at Owerre Aba for now,” the trader to The Nation at a Deeper Life service at Abia State Polytechnic, Aba where he and his wife took Miracle for prayers.

    “I am from Mbieri, Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State. I am a petty trader at Ariaria International Market, Aba Abia State.

    “Miracle was born on September 2, 2014. I wasn’t living with them because things became hard for us and my family left for the village while I stayed back in Aba to be doing my business.

    Three months after his birth, I got to the village and saw his condition, but I never knew it would be this serious, though my wife after his birth noticed that his head was big, but didn’t know it was a serious problem.

    One week later, my junior sister called to inform me that my baby’s head was developing in an unusual manner. I went home and took him to FMC (Federal Medical Centre Owerri), but they were on strike. We couldn’t go to Enugu since February to see one of the Pediatrics we were referred to go and see in Enugu because of lack of money and as such have been going from one place to another for treatment and that is why we are here today to see if God can use the Man of God (Kumuyi) to heal our son.

    “As at the time we were referred to Enugu, we learnt that doctors at UNTH, Enugu were equally on strike. Fortunately for us, we met a doctor who saw us and told us that the baby will be operated upon on his head to enable him live his normal life. We noticed it since December 2014. He is my second son and third child. The child is healthy. He doesn’t have fever, he eats normally and feels discomfort because of the weight of his head.

    “The truth is that we don’t have anyone and the little money that I had has gone into his treatment because we had taken Miracle to herbal doctors but yet, there was no improvement before we finally met the doctor that suggested that the baby will be operated upon.

    “I am appealing to the Imo State governor and the father of the needy in Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha to come to our assistance. The life of this baby is under threat and it will take good-hearted Nigerians like the governor of Imo State and concerned Nigerians to come to our rescue. The name of our baby is Miracle and I hope that through kind Nigerians, the significance of the baby’s name will be made manifest,” Miracle’s father pleaded.

    His wife, Mrs. Chidinma Iheanyichukwu Onumaraekwu, an indigene of Abia State who spoke in tears, corroborated her husband’s account of the incident.

    According to her, “I took in for my third child while in the village because we left Aba due to condition of things for us. I went for scan but it was not detected. It was about two months after his birth that we noticed that his head was growing big. We initially took it for granted, but when we noticed that it was becoming abnormal for a child of his age, we took him to hospitals including FMC Owerri, Imo State. It was after medical examinations that we were told that he will be operated upon. This condition has made me and his elder one to be staying at home. They no longer go to school because we don’t have money to carter for their educational and academic needs.

    “We have visited many homes; both hospitals and traditional homes seeking for cure. The life of this baby is precious and we don’t want to lose him. I know he has a great future and I want the meaning of his name to manifest in his life.

    “I am appealing to the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, charity and Non-Governmental Organizations to come to our assistance and help to give this child back his life. We don’t have gold or silver, but I know that God who maketh man to be rich will always replenish their purses and wherever they will bring money to assist us”, Mrs. Blessing Iheanyichukwu prayed.

    Financial assistance may be sent to Onumaraekwu Iheanyichukwu Joseph on his Ecobank account number 4083019392.

     

  • Bid to kidnap baby in Abia foiled

    An attempt to snatch a two-week-old baby in a village in Abia State has been thwarted by police, The Nation learnt.

    Two armed men were said to have attacked a house in Amaede community in Isiala Ngwa Local Government Area of the state in a bid to kidnap a baby.

    They were stiffly resisted by the child’s parents, forcing the hoodlums to flee upon also sensing the presence of police in the area.

    The hoodlums fired some shots and inflicted a machete injury on the baby’s mother Glory Nweze before abandoning the operation.

    The suspects were said to be struggling for the baby with Mrs Nweze, leading to cut on her left hand.

    The hoodlums fled the scene as soon as they learnt that the police were in the neighbourhood. They left behind one locally-made double-barrel gun, one machete, two expended cartridges, a mask, two Itel handsets, a rubber slippers and two set of head torch.

    The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO Ezekiel Onyeke Udeviotu confirmed the incident.

    Udeviotu who said that the boy’s mother was responding to treatment in an undisclosed hospital added that one of the gang members identified as Azunna from Umuokoro village.

    He said that the house of the suspect was raided and two long locally made single-barrel guns, one live and two expended cartridges, one iron rod and a photograph portrait were found.

    The PPRO further appealed to members of the public to avail the police of useful information on the whereabouts of the suspects who were still at large at the time of this report.

     

  • Baby, two others die in accident

    •Angry residents attack truck drivers

    A two-month-old baby and two other passengers died yesterday in an accident on the Ibadan-Abeokuta Expressway.

    It was gathered that the trio were passengers in a 12-seater commercial bus. The bus collided with a truck.

    Angry residents of Apata, Ibadan in Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State destroyed five trucks in protest.

    The protest was brought under control by a team of anti-riot policemen from Iyaganku Police Station at 12.10pm.

    The Apata Unit Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Matthew Cyril Sambo, said six others were injured. He said they were taken to Alaafia Hospital, Apata, Ibadan.

    Sambo said the truck, which was carrying granite, and the commercial bus had a collision.

    The driver of the truck was said to have attempted to overtake a vehicle when he ran into the bus.

    An eyewitness said the accident occurred at 11am at Km 6, Abeokuta Road, Apata, Opp De-Vine Hotel, Ibadan.

    A commercial tricycle was involved but none of its four passengers were injured.

     

  • Police rescue kidnapped nine-month-old baby

    Police operatives in Lagos have arrested a woman, Jennifer Arinze, who reportedly kidnapped her friend’s nine-month-old baby.
    The suspect, who was said to have abducted the baby in the Ajegunle area of the state, was arrested in Okija, Anambra State and the child recovered.
    The suspect it was learnt, told the baby’s mother, Mrs. Aina Adetola,  that she wanted to buy biscuits for him at a nearby kiosk but never returned.
    It was gathered that she was arrested between Okija and Oraifite in Anambra state, where the baby was also recovered.
    Briefing reporters on the activities of the force the past month, the Commissioner, Fatai Owoseni the incident occurred at the baby’s mother’s shop.
    He said: “A lady who pretended to be friend to another woman at Ajegunle area of Lagos, stole the woman’s nine month old baby.
    “The suspect went to the shop of the mother of the child and requested to buy the child some biscuit and beverages at a nearby kiosk.
    “While the mother of the child was busy in her shop, the suspect bolted away with the nine-month-old baby.
    “Through our network of intelligence, we were able to trace the suspect to a place in between Okija and Oraifite.
    “The suspect has been arrested; the nine- month-old baby has also being reunited with his family.”
    Owoseni also disclosed that the police killed five notorious armed robbers in shootout, made over 100 arrests and recovered several weapons last month.
    The suspects, he said, were arrested for various offences ranging from armed robbery to kidnapping, child theft, murder, advance fee fraud, cultism, impersonation and car snatching.
    Parading about 34 suspects at the  command headquarters,  he stated that 40 were arrested for armed robbery and 31 others for cultism.

  • Concerns for baby whose dad was killed by policeman in Port Harcourt

    Concerns for baby whose dad was killed by policeman in Port Harcourt

    He was not born when his father was killed by a policeman in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, for allegedly not giving a N100 bribe. His mother was delivered of him two months after the sad incident. After his birth, he was named ThankGod David Legbara. His father was David Legbara. He was a commercial bus driver in Port Harcourt. He was murdered on August 7 by a policeman attached to Kala Station for refusing to give bribe.

    His father’s death automatically made him fatherless. Now there are concerns about what tomorrow holds for him. His mother, Gift Legbara, can barely afford to feed him well.

    Legbara’s death created a scene that almost truncated business activities in Port Harcourt. There were protests for three days protest by angry commercial drivers under the aegis Rivers State Association of Road Transport Workers. Some of the protesters went nude demanding compensation to the family of the deceased and scholarship for the then unborn baby.

    The then Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Chris Ezike, in a statement, confirmed that a police officer on stop-and-search duty shot the victim. He also assured the protesters that the police would ensure the safety of the widow and contribute to the welfare of the baby, who was born a fortnight ago.

    Mrs. Legbara and his baby are now at their home in Mgboushimini community in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area. She was lucky to have a safe delivery because the maternity where she delivered had no facility to handle emergency situation.

    When Niger Delta Report visited the family, it was evident they need help. Their living condition is nothing to write home about. The area they live is a swamp waterfront settlement; their house is made up of wood and red mud.

    Narrating what she went through as a pregnant woman when the sad news was broken to her, Mrs. Legbara said it would have been a double tragedy.

    “I almost gave up the ghost. I thought it was a dream, later it looked as if I was in a different world where nothing existed. But I thank God that I didn’t die with the pregnancy.  When my husband  died, I was in the market. I felt cold in my whole body, I felt like eating but I couldn’t, I was restless. I was feeling cold seriously. One of my customers came to the shop to patronise my goods, but because of the cold I could not attend to her. She asked if I was okay, I told her I didn’t know what was wrong with me. After that, someone called me and told me that they shot my husband. I told her to be serious that it was not a joking matter; she still repeated it that they shot my husband but refused to tell me where the shooting took place.”

    She continued: “That day I felt like dying. I said ‘God, where will I start from? I don’t have anybody. He was the only hope I had, he was the breadwinner of his family.  I told the people who informed me about my husband’s death to allow me go with them to see him but they refused due to my condition. The onlookers started blaming the woman who informed me of my husband’s death.  In spite of our poor condition, we were very happy as husband and wife. The police murdered my husband at the time that things were about to get better. As a commercial driver, he drove another man’s vehicle and rendered account daily. But later he got a vehicle to drive on hire purchase and he had completed the terms of agreement, meaning that the bus now belonged to him before he was killed.”

    Mrs. Lagbara wants the police to assist train her baby to the university level. She noted that her late husband planned to ensure that his children got good education.

    “The police officer who killed my husband did not allow him to have more children with me. This is my first issue after our marriage. To be frank, I need help from the government. I don’t have anybody who will help me. I want them to train the child from nursery school up to university level.”

    Mr. Gobari Deebom, a lawyer, said: “We have not relented since the day of the occurrence of this incident even till now, because our interest is how to sustain the interest of the family; especially the wife and the new born baby. Our plan is how to give him a befitting education from nursery to university and for the baby to be an independent person in life.

    “We have written to the Inspector General of Police. The time frame we gave to them has elapsed, not even a call from any of them, despite that we are not relenting. We have also written letters to the governor of Rivers State pleading with him to assuage the pain of the wife, the new born baby and the aged mother at home on sympathetic ground; we are hoping that our governor as a liberal man will assist the family. Though they have not called but we still hope in God that things will work out fine.”

    For now, all eyes are on the police to fulfil the promise of helping train the baby. Many are also waiting to see what will become of the killer cop. Justice, observers insist, must be done.

     

  • ‘Early child birth ’ll ensure healthy baby’

    Mothers have been advised to give birth at an early age to ensure a healthy baby.

    A paediatrician at Motayo Specialist Hospital, Ikeja, a private health facility, Dr Chinenye Ananti, said women, who deliver at 35 years and above may be vulnerable to having babies with Down’s syndrome (DS).

    According to her, older women are at a higher risk of giving birth to DS babies than women below 35 years because age is a factor. “The chances are as high as one in 30 births for women at 35 and above and one in 350 births for women below 35,” she said.

    She continued: “Down’s syndrome is a genetic disorder that is associated with maternal age, which can be diagnosed at child birth. Early treatment may reduce other problems, which may occur as the child grows older.

    “In cases of DS there is an extra chromosome called trixono chromosome found at the 21st position of chromosomes found in the body and can be diagnosed prenatally or after birth.”

    According to her, there are 36 chromosomes found in the human body. “They are always found in pairs, but at the 21st position, three chromosomes are found called trioxo chromosome or trixon 21,” Dr Ananti said.

    Most babies born with DS, she said, usually have a hole in the heart, adding that this is one of the problems they have.

    “Majority of them also come down with congenital heart problems. They also have problem with their sight,” she said.

    Growth problems, she said, is also part of what they experience. “Their development process is slow unlike typical children. For instance, if a typical child starts walking at age one, it may take a child with Down syndrome two to three years to walk,” she said.

    The paediatrician said babies with the condition are faced with intellectual disability, saying it is difficult for them to reason very well.

    “Sometimes, they get excited unnecessarily. They also have leukaemia, delayed milestone and low intelligence quotient (IQ),” she said, adding that no DS male has ever been known to father a child, but their females counterparts give birth. “However, they do not usually have too many children because they have fertility problems,” she added.

    Ananti said the governments at all levels are already creating awareness about the condition’s existence.

    The future, she said, is bright for children with DS because there is a society in Nigeria for people ailed by the condition, adding that DS clients of various ages link with one another.

    The specialist said life expectancy for persons with the condition was short in the past, but recently they living up to 50 years.

    She said once a baby is born and diagnosed with DS, it should undergo some tests, adding that the problem should be corrected to avoid recurrence.

    “Many problems will come up as the child grows older. So, they can be managed while he or she is still very little,” Ananti said.

    She urged parents to manage the disorder by following the instructions of healthcare providers. “It is a medical condition that is diagnosed at child birth. It is not a child killer disease, but it can lead to death if not well managed,” Ananti said.

  • This baby needs help urgently

    This baby needs help urgently

    Chimdubem Elizabeth Kezie is just one month old but one with a terrible burden. Her heart is bad, and doctors say she cannot survive unless an operation is carried out in India to save her life. Her father, Kezie Harry, a graduate of Business Administration from Enugu State University of Technology cannot afford that kind of money.

    He said, “She was born on the 2nd of June, 2015, at Federal Staff Hospital Jabi Abuja. The doctors noticed she was not breathing properly and asked us to run an echo-sound on her, which we did on the 11th of June. The test came out that she has a hole in her heart, which is not the type that will close over time, hence we were advised that the only solution will be to carry out a surgery on her which will be done in India.

    “For now we are working on an estimated figure of four million Naira (N4,000,000) based on the people who have gone through a similar case. [Another scan was scheduled at the National Hospital Abuja, and then yet another] After that, an official letter will be written to the hospital in India to get the actual cost of the surgery, cost of transportation, accommodation and so on.”

    He also appealed to Nigerians to render assistance, in terms of finance, prayers and information that could be crucial in saving Elizabeth’s tender life.

    “We have been able to get Nine hundred and fifty thousand Naira (N950,000) from individuals, because most organizations we intend meeting for assistance will need the details before they can assist us. If good-spirited Nigerians can assist us with finances, prayers and information that will aid us in carrying out the surgery successfully, we will certainly be grateful,” he said.

    Elizabeth’s story, sad on its own, is another pointer to the deplorable infrastructure in Nigeria’s health sector. Definitely, if the operation could have been done in Nigeria, the cost would be reduced and the chances of saving the baby’s life, increased. As it stands, unless a miracle happens, the survival of Elizabeth’s life will depend on whether her parents can raise the millions required before time runs out.

    Cheerful givers around the country, donations can be made to Kezie Harrison Obinna, 2000430991, Zenith Bank. For further enquiries, the father can be reached on 08036715618