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Tag: surgery

  • Seven-year old hole-in-the-heart patient needs N2.5m for surgery

    Seven-year old hole-in-the-heart patient needs N2.5m for surgery

    When Abiola Isaiah Babalola was born seven years ago, his parents did not have an inkling that as the child grew in age, so would his pain grow. He was born on August 23, 2008. But only four months after his birth, the journey to a painful life started for the little baby.

    The parents noticed that his growth was stunted as he was not growing exactly like other babies. It was later discovered that little Isaiah had a hole in his heart, causing the stunted growth and other serious health conditions.

    Since then, the family has not remained the same. The parent’s pain hit the peak when the doctors at the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan declared to them that the little boy would need a sum of N2.5 million for surgery to correct the heart.

    According to Dr. Tosin Majekodunmi, an adult congenital and interventional cardiologist of the Tristate Cardiovascular Institute at the UCH, Isaiah, if not operated soon, may suffer hormonary hypertension, the implication of which, he said, is a short term life expectancy.

    Isaiah is the last of three children in the family. The eldest, who is an 18-years old boy, lives with one of their family members while the second one, a female, 15, lives with them.

    As The Nation correspondent walked in to his father’s uncompleted three-bedroom flat at Lakoto area of Apete, Ibadan, Isaiah extended his hand to greet, speaking incoherently. His parents wore mournful look as they ushered our correspondent into their dusty sitting room which is yet to be plastered.

    Still, the boy will not leave the visitor. With a slow voice, his father, Mr. Jacob Babalola, who is a native of Ilero community in Kajola Local Government area of Oyo State, narrated how they discovered Isaiah’s ailment.

    His parents had decided not to have another baby after the arrival of their second child. The decision, which they attributed to their weak financial strength, was jettisoned when family, friends and neighbours, citing cultural reasons as Africans, persuaded them to bear more children. Eventually, the mother was delivered of a baby boy, Isaiah, on August 23, 2008, eight years after the second child. They were happy it was a boy but their happiness did not last.

    Recalling the events, Mr Babalola said: “We just noticed that his growth was retarded; he was not developing rapidly like his peers. It was one of my sisters who first alerted us. We were told to pray over it, for healing, because they have had such cases before. His retarded growth also slowed down his education as he just started nursery school late last year. And that has changed him a bit. He is a sharp boy naturally,” the father said.

    “I had prayed God to direct me; to be able to give him the best a father can give his child or children. I just love him. In as much as I am alive, I have thought, I would finance their education to the highest level. I love education,

    “Lately, we decided to take him to the hospital and it was revealed that the hole has widened. He was diagnosed with an arterial septal defect on January 22, 2015 at the Tristate Cardiovascular Institute at the University College Hospital, Ibadan. And that was the point we were told to go for surgical operation,”

    Speaking on how the medical bills have affected their living, Mr. Babalola, who worked as a transport supervisor at a firm in Ibadan until late last year, said he has spent over N300, 000 on medication alone “not to talk of the hospital bills at UCH.  The medication is on hourly basis. It is only God that has kept him thus far.”

    A government licenced electrical contractor, Mr. Babalola noted that Isaiah’s ill-health has made them lose their sources of income as they cannot go to work frequently again. He explained that he resigned voluntarily for him to be able “to take care of the boy with the hope that i was going to be working as an electrical contractor. I took that decision because there is no how my work as an employee will not deny him first-hand attention.”

    His family, friends and church members, he explained, have been trying. “The church gave us N56, 000. At first, I felt reluctant to collect the money because what I wanted was for them to advise me on what next to do to save my boy.

    “There was a day a test that should have cost N120, 000 was done for us at UCH at the cost of N50, 000 because of the magnanimity of one of our church members who works there. I have another debt of N15, 000 to pay. They are too numerous to mention.

    “The medication has affected our feeding. We cannot buy all the prescribed drugs. The mother cannot work anymore; she has a sewing machine but the condition of her baby hinders her. She was a nanny in a daycare centre but she had to leave when the doctor advised her that it is either she leaves her job or risk losing her baby”.

    Shivering and rubbing his palms against each other, the mother. Mrs. Folake said that she was not happy as a mother. The stress, she admitted, has affected her own health too. “I was not like this; the stress is too much. Whenever I think about it, I am not happy.”

    They appealed to well-meaning Nigerians, government and corporate organisations to come to their aid by donating to the following bank account.  Account name: Tristate Cardiovascular Institute. Bank:Stanbic/IBTC Bank; Account number: 0009560650:Sort Code: 221190825.

  • Gambo undergoes surgery to remove bullets

    Gambo undergoes surgery to remove bullets

    Kano Pillars star striker Gambo Mohammed has undergone surgery to remove bullets lodged in his body after his club’s bus was attacked last week by robbers.

    Gambo is therefore the only player who suffered gunshot wounds during the incident and who is still in hospital in Kano a week after the attack.

    Eneji Otekpa amd Murtala Adamu, who were also injured in the attack, were discharged on Wednesday from the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital in Kano.

    The club’s media officer, Idris Malikawa told AfricanFootball.com that Otekpa and Murtala Adamu have been discharged from the hospital leaving only Gambo behind.

    “Two more players have been discharged from the hospital, they are Eneji Otekpa and Murtala Adamu. Only Gambo Mohammed remains in the hospital now, but he is getting better,” Malikawa told AfricanFootball.com

    Reuben Ogbonnaya and Ubong Ekpai were discharged earlier.

    Pillars will start playing again on Saturday when they welcome Bayelsa United in the league, while their CAF Champions League clash against Moghreb Tetouan of Morocco has been moved to next weekend.

  • Forex expert needs N10m for cancer surgery

    Forex expert needs N10m for cancer surgery

    A forex trainer and newspaper columnist, Mr Adekunle Adeyeri, needs N10 million for cancer of the bone marrow surgery.

    The 46-year-old personal finance expert explained that he was struck by the ailment last year while preparing for church.

    He said: “On August 17, 20I4, I was in the bathroom preparing for church, when everything suddenly went blank. I felt some sensations like electric shocks ravaging my body and I could not move my left leg. I could not even stand on my feet again and I was about to fall when my wife quickly came to my aid. I was rushed to a private hospital where I was revived and subsequently transferred to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, for further treatment.”

    Adeyeri’s medical report reveals that he is suffering from a deadly disease called multiple myeloma-cancer of the bone marrow. He is been unable to walk or sit.

    His condition, according to doctors, requires a spinal surgery and a bone marrow transplant that will cost N10 million.

    “Through the help of my family members and classmates at the Federal Government College in Ido-Ani, Ondo State, I had to travel to India for the spine surgery which cost N3 million. I was told if I didn’t do it before the transplant I would become paralysed. But my doctors insist that I must go back for the bone marrow transplant because the cancer cells are now spreading through my body and eating deep into the spine again.”

    Adeyeri, who hails from Ondo State, is pleading with well-meaning Nigerians for support to carry out the life-saving surgery.

    “I have spent all my life savings on treatment and I have no money to take care of my health. Even my family members have really assisted me with money and have exhausted their pocket. I am, therefore, pleading with Nigerians to assist me to raise N10m. I am also calling on Governor Segun Mimiko as well as well-meaning Nigerians and organisations to rescue me from the jaws of death,” he said

    Adeyeri can be reached on-08039391041; donors can send money to his account- Adekunle Adeyeri, Guaranty Trust Bank, 0007654719.

  • Ten-month-old needs N2.5m for heart surgery

    Ten-month-old needs N2.5m for heart surgery

    She was born like every other normal baby and her parents were full of expectations that every stage of her growth would be without any problem.

    Few months after, the unexpected happened. She is afflicted with is a life-threatening ailment.

    Baby Gracious Chiamaka Onwusoro was diagnosed with heart problem, a whole in the heart which she has been fighting to stay alive. She needs N2.5 million to undergo heart surgery if she must live.

    Her condition has brought emotional pain and psychological trauma to her parents as the possibility of staying alive depends, to a large extent, on the benevolence of well-meaning Nigerians.

    Physicians say the baby needs an urgent surgical operation to save her from dying at infancy.

    She is the daughter of Mr. And Mrs Emmanuel Onwusoro. Mr Onwusoro is a reporter on the employ of the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), Channel 5, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State. He had spent virtually all his earnings on the baby since

    the problem began few months after she was born on February 21 this year.

    Onwusoro and his wife have been in and out of many hospitals in search of solution to Gracious’ health problem.

    The baby is currently admitted at the Intensive Care Unit of the University College Hospital, Oritamefa Ibadan Oyo State.

    According to a clinical report signed by one Dr. Tosin Majekodunmi of Tristate Cardiovascular Institute to where she was referred for comprehensive medical examination, Baby Gracious is suffering from Antrio-Ventricular Septal defect, a heart-related disease.

    Though gracious, the second child of her parents, who was born through Caesarean section did not give any sign of complication at birth, her condition later turned worse.

    Symptoms of excessive sweating, inability to breathe and serious weight loss were the initial manifestation of her illness. Her parents had to seek medical help where the damning revelation about her health status was revealed.

    To confirm how worse the situation has been, Gracious was 4.2 kg at six months old, which forced the parents to go for echocardiogram treatment at Biket Hospital Osogbo Osun State.

    Narrating his ordeal about his child’s heart ailment to reporters, Mr Onwusoro said he initially declined to call for assistance from public-spirited Nigerians but had no option than to do so because all his lean resources as he had expended much already through huge medical bills from various hospitals they had taken the child to.

    This, according to him, has reduced the family’s financial capacity. They still believe that the baby would survive despite the present prevails they are going through.

    Mr Onwusoro further said the N2.5 million for the surgical operation is too difficult for him to raise based on his income and what the family had already spent so far.

    He said: “I want to plead with public-spirited Nigerians to help my family to

    overcome the serious challenge. We are not only passing through trauma at present, but we are down with heavy heart because no parents would be happy to lose any of their children.

    “I have spent so much and sold some of the family’s valuables to take her this far and it will be a colossal and devastating blow for us to lose her at this stage.”

    In her report, Dr Majekodunmi said: “I have had a lengthy conversation with Mrs Onwusoro and explained the diagnosis to her in some detail and she now appreciates the complexity of Gracious’ cardiac pathology.

    “I have explained that the closure ASV and heart coarctation repair are all fairly straightforward procedures which can be done at minimal risk and with a very high probability of total success.

    “Repair of such complex atrio-ventricular septal defect has not been performed in Nigeria to date and it would be a significant undertaking to attempt full repair in a nine-month-old that is failing to thrive.

    “If we were to contemplate surgical repair in Nigeria, the estimated cost of such procedure is N2.5m.”

    Those willing to assist the Onwusoro family in raising the N2.5 million required to save the precious life of Baby Gracious Chiamaka Onwusoro should send their financial contributions to this account details: Emmanuel Onwusoro, UBA Account Number: 2004071558 or contact on 08067207073

  • This boy needs N3.5m for surgery overseas

    It was not their plan to go begging when they got this precious gift from God about eight- month ago, but the family of Mr and Mrs Opeyemi Okunade of No 17, Eyinogbe Street, Owo, Ondo State is being forced to beg to save the life of their little boy, Darasimi who is down with a strange ailment.

    According to medical report, Darasimi is suffering from a cyanotic congenital heart defect via Echocardiography.

    The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti Dr Kolawole Ogundipe, through the Consultant Pediatrician Dr E.O Ogundare said the heart defect is Truncus Arteriosus type 1 which has led to the boy being in and out of the hospital.

    He said the defect requires surgical operation, but after consultations with Pediatric Cardiologists in the country, it was discovered that the surgery cannot be done in Nigeria.

    Based on this finding, the medical consultant said the baby boy will benefit from surgical correction in India where medical care is a bit cheaper.

    He said, after consulting with healthcare institutions in India, the hospital care/treatment of the patient and travel is estimated to cost about USD ($20,000).

    He therefore solicited financial assistance in helping the young boy out of his predicament in order to live a quality life and contribute his quota to nation’s development.

    Amid tears, the mother of the ailing little baby, Mrs Okunade Olukemi Faith who came to The Nation office in Akure said since the diagnosis was made by the doctors, her baby had not been enjoying good health, stressing that his health condition is deteriorating by the day.

    Her words: “My baby has been losing weight and has lapsed into unconscious state and breathing pattern has been getting worse on a daily basis.

    “Due to this problem, he has been on admission several times at Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (ESUTH) Ado-Ekiti where we have been spending everything we have on him.

    “However, the doctors said the heart problems could not be solved in Nigeria and that the baby might die soon, if nothing urgent is done at the right time”

    Mrs Okunade said after consultations by the doctors, they said the surgical operation could be done in India at Max Health Care Press Enclave Road, Saket, New Delhi-110017,  at the estimated cost of N3.4m which the couple could not afford.

    The father of the ailing Darasimi is a generator repairer who has no means of totally footing the bill.

    The family is therefore seeking assistance from their compatriots to help their son live. The Okunades could be contacted at their home, No 17, Eyinogbe Street, Owo, or through mobile telephone number 08065136262. Donations could also be made via Mrs Okunade Oluwakemi Faith bank account at First Bank, with account number 3060411449.

  • Hole-in-the-heart baby needs N2.4m for urgent open heart surgery

    Just like with any other family, when the Dosunmu found out that they were going to be having a fourth child, they celebrated and awaited the arrival of their bundle of joy.

    But unfortunately, their excitement turned into fear after their little bundle of love was born over two months ago. According to his father, his excitement turned dreadful after their son was born and he was allowed to see his baby for the first time.

    Unlike their order children at birth, his new bundle of joy, Abdul Azeem, was breathing heavily and had to be on oxygen to enable him breathe and when the worried father asked the doctor in charge what was wrong with his baby, the doctor simply asked him not to worry because mucus was gathered in his new baby’s cheat and would soon clear off.

    But Adam Dosunmu was worried because something unfortunately similar had happened to the small family two years ago and it had taken them a long time to recover from it.

    Two years ago, when his second child was four years old, an old friend of his noticed that his son was breathing harder than normal and advised that he should get the child checked. After a few tests were run at the National Hospital, Abuja, it was discovered that his first son had a hole in his heart and will not survive much longer without an operation.

    The family ran around seeking for help from family members and friends and eventually, enough money was raised and his son was taken to India where he had a successful operation before returning to the country.

    So, seeing his fourth child and third son breathing as heavily as his elder brother did, although he was still very little, scared the new father; he eventually took solace in the doctors’ advice and prayed for the best.

    A few days later, medical doctors all over the country went on strike and the family was discharged but two weeks later, they had to rush the baby to the Federal Medical Centre, Gwarimpa, because he could barely breathe. Staff at the hospital told the distraught parents that not only were they on strike, but they did not have oxygen at the hospital, even though the little boy was clearly dying. Eventually, a friend directed the family to another hospital in town, Childcare and Wellness Clinic, where the baby was immediately admitted and supported with oxygen to breathe since he could not do so on his own.

    The family was asked to take the baby for a chest Xray and eventually, the result came back that little Abdul Azeem, who was barely two months old, had a big hole in his heart and needs urgent surgery to save his life.

    The doctor advised family to contact the doctor in India that did his first son’s open heart surgery and send him the result of baby Abdul Azeem, which the father did and when the hospital confirmed their fear that the baby had a huge hole in the heart and needs an urgent open heart surgery before he is three months old.

    According to Adam Dosunmu, “We were at home till a day that be became unable to breathe very well; we rushed him to the Federal Staff Hospital Gwarimpa, where they told us that he needed oxygen but they did not have. In fact, nobody attended to us and the baby was dying because he stopped breathing for a while.

    “I called one of my friends who told me to take him to Childcare and Wellness Clinic in Wuse. We took him there; they took good care of him; we spent up to a week at the hospital and I was so impressed at how they treated him.

    “When we arrived the hospital for the first day, the first bill that we were given for the first day was N54,000 because he was under oxygen. After a while, we asked how much the bill was and they told us N22,000. I was afraid of how I was going to raise the money after just paying the first bill but the Medical Director of the hospital asked us not to worry and took care of all of the bills.

    “When they finished everything, they asked us to go for Xray but when the result came out, the doctor said that she was not too satisfied with the result and directed us to Eco Scan and it was from there that they discovered that he had a hole in his heart, a very big one and there is a vein that is supposed to go towards the left, but it went to the right.

    “I was advised to send the result to the doctor who did the first one and I sent the result to the doctor at the MIOT Hospital in Chennai and the doctor sent us a reply. The doctor in India said we should try and bring the baby before he is three months; so, right now, we have very little time left.

    “The doctor gave me an estimate of the cost for treatment and we will have to as well take care of transportation, feeding and accommodation while there. Everything will cost about N2.4m. He said if we do not have the surgery in time, his breathing may stop at anytime; so, we should just try and do it immediately.”

    Diagnosis from the hospital on baby Abdul Azeem to the MIOT hospital in Chennai, India, reads: “Dosunmu was presented to this clinic for the first time on the 9th of July, 29014 with poor suck, cough and difficulty breathing. He is in respiratory distress with an SpO2 of 63% and Crepitations in both lung fields and an ejection systolic murmur. Investigations revealed a supracardia TAPVR and a large OS ASD. He is being referred to you for expert management signed by Dr Remi Alege, for Childcare and Wellness Clinics”.

    After the Xray result and all the required tests were sent to Dr. Robert Coelho, Director and Chief Paediatric Cardiac Surgeon of the MIOT Hospital Chennai, India, he sent a letter to the Visa Officer, Indian High Commission, Abuja, Nigeria and it says: “This is to certify that baby Dosunmu Abdul Azeem Akandi Adam aged 2 months, male, suffering from congenital heart disease and is accepted for open heart surgery at the MIOT Centre for children’s Cardiac Care, MIOT Hospitals, Chennai. Surgery is advised at the earliest. The duration of stay required is about 3-4 weeks”.

    Parents of Abdul Azeem Adam and Kafayat Dosunmu are asking for help from well-meaning individuals to come to their aid and help save the life of little Abdul Azeem. You can send your contributions to: Dosunmu Adam J, GTBank, account number 0024384460, and you can contact the family on 08036278261.

  • Patient needs N600,000 for surgery

    Patient needs N600,000 for surgery

    Mrs. Oluchi Victor, a pool agent, is experiencing severe pains on her hospital bed because of injuries she sustained from the beating her neighbour gave her. She needs N600,000 for plastic surgery. She spoke to our Aba correspondent, SUNNY NWANKWO reports on how her neighbour’s brutality has kept her in hospital for six months.

    Papa Chiamaka (a name she called her neighbour) is a very shy man who hardly looks at someone’s face. We have not had any quarrel for nearly one year when we moved into our compound. His wife and I used to exchange home movies. Honestly, I am yet to know why he attempted to strangle me to death. When that attempt failed, he hit me with his car. That has kept me in the hospital for the past six months.”

    These are the words of Mrs. Blessing Victor while narrating the incident involving her neighbour, Mr. Ibezim Michael, a driver with Geometrics Power Company Limited, Aba, who, after luring her with a coupon business, allegedly attempted to strangle her to death. When his attempt failed, she said, he hit her with his company’s car which has left her bedridden since February 12, this year.

    Having spent six months at the hospital, the family resources have been drained.

    Though the first phase of her treatment is almost completed, Oluchi, a patient at a hospital in Aba (name withheld for security reasons), will need to undergo plastic surgery to live a normal life again.

    She is begging the government, religious organisations, non-governmental organisations and public-spirited individuals to come to her aid to enable her foot the bill of N600,000, which she said her family could not afford.

    Oluchi, who is an indigene of Ohafia in Abia State and married to an Akwa Ibom man, said: ”I work as a pool agent. I have two kids. My first daughter is three years while the last one is one year old. We live at Obuzor, Ekeakpara in Osisioma Local Government Area of Abia State.

    “On February 12, this year, a man living in the same yard with me by name Ibezim Michael called me on phone to inquire if I had opened for business. He said he was on his way to the pool office.

    “In a short while, Mr. Ibezim arrived at my office.

    “He said he called to tell me that one of their staff was waiting for me at home. According to him, the person plays heavy stake and usually does not go to pool offices. He rather prefers playing privately because of his position.

    “He further told me that the man always sends him to play pool for him at a pool office somewhere on Okigwe Road.

    “He said since we are living in the same yard and having observed that I do neat business; paying my customers as at and when due, that he cannot continue going to Okigwe Road, even as he begged me to follow him to our yard to see the man.

    “He said he had told the man to patronise me as not only his neighbour, but someone that does not indulge in dubious or shoddy deals.

    “He said if the man is satisfied with the way I will treat him that he (Ibezim’s Oga) will become one of my regular customers.

    “I was happy that my neighbour could be so concerned to have thought it wise to bring such a customer to me. I was reluctant to go back to our compound because it was not long I left our yard for the office. He told me not to worry because he came with a car, assuring me that he would take me back to my office. Reluctantly, I agreed to follow him to the house.

    “On our way, he suggested that we take the alternative road to avoid traffic jam which is usually associated with the road.

    “At a point, he pulled the car over. While I was inside the car waiting, he quietly came over to the door where I was sitting, opened it and grabbed me on the throat. He asked me to say my last prayer because, he said, I was going to die. He kept pressing me hard on the neck as he tried to strangle me to death.

    “There was nobody on the road to come to my rescue. He pressed me so hard that my two eyes were bulging out. I could barely talk or cry out as a result of what he did to me.

    “On hearing the sound of a motorcycle driving towards our direction, he stopped pressing me so as to avoid being suspected by the motorcycle rider. Immediately the person passed by. As luck would have, he stopped pressing me after he heard two women trekking and approaching towards our direction.

    “Suspecting that the women have seen us and could raise the alarm, he pulled me out of the car and while he was trying to reverse and escape, he hit me with the car and I sustained severe injury on my legs.

    “It was at that point that the women raised the alarm which attracted other people to the scene. It was a woman, one of the early callers at the scene of the incident, who recognised me and went to inform my husband.

    “Before my husband could come, some public-spirited individuals had arranged for a tricycle that took me to a private hospital, at least to save. At that point, my seven-month-old baby was nowhere to be found.”

    On the relationship between both families before the incident, Oluchi explained: “We had not had issues. We have been living peacefully. I used to exchange home movies with the wife (Mama Mimi as we fondly called her). Since the incident happened, I learnt she visited but was sent back by my relations. She has not called or sent text message(s),” she said.   On what life has been since the accident, Oluchi added that because of the harsh situation we find ourselves in, to eat is even a problem. We don’t even have the money to offset the medical bill. I have started walking gradually with a walking stick.

    “I am appealing to public-spirited individuals and the government to please come to my aid because it has not been easy for my family.

    “The doctor has been so good to us because there are things he will decide to do freely. Police from Osisioma has equally visited me here to take my statement. My husband told me that the case has been transferred from Osisioma to the Aba Area Command.

    Mr. Archibong Victor, who corroborated his wife’s account, said it was the Geometric Company that brought his wife to the hospital, adding that after taking care of some of their medical bills, they abandoned the couple to their fate. The company’s vehicle has been in the custody of Osisioma Police Station.

    “Though they paid about N200,000, they said they will not help us again. That is why we are still here. There is nobody to help us.

    “To pay the bill at this orthopedic hospital is difficult because I cannot afford it. Sometimes, I borrow to pay but there is no money to pay for the hospital bill again. We are appealing to the government and public-spirited individuals to come to our aid to save the life of my wife. We are really facing a critical time at the hospital now.”

    He said though Mr. Ibezim is facing a murder case in the law court, his priority is seeing his wife’s condition better and improved.

    You can save the life of mother of two by offering financial assistance through First Bank account number; Kalu Oluchi 3029875848. For more information, you can contact her on 08069242807.

  • Why I offer free reconstruction surgery for the poor, by Modupe Ozolua

    Why I offer free reconstruction surgery for the poor, by Modupe Ozolua

    Thirteen years ago, when Modupe Ozolua ventured into the world of beauty enhancement therapy, many Nigerians were quick to dismiss her projects. But years after, with many body reconstruction and humanitarian activities, Ozolua is set to move into the next phase. Seun Akioye reports.

    There is something that glows about Modupe Ozolua, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Body Enhancement Limited and Founder, Body Enhancement Foundation.

    It also leaves one with conflicting emotions about her identity and personality. At least that was the consensus in 2001 when she appeared on the social scene and announced that her company would be involved in helping women enhance their bodies, especially the breasts.

    There were as many Nigerians that dismissed the gorgeous Ozolua as there were that embraced her body enhancement therapy. She held on to the belief that women who are not satisfied with their bodies deserve a second chance at looking young and beautiful.

    In the years following the opening of her cosmetic surgery centre, her clientele grew in leaps and bounds, many of them society women and business tycoons who wanted the anti-ageing therapy that Ozolua offers.

    But two years after opening the first cosmetic surgery centre in Nigeria and West Africa, she jolted her critics by doing the unusual: she founded the Body Enhancement Annual Reconstructive Surgery (BEARS), a charity organisation which specialised in helping the indigent in need of life-saving body reconstruction.

    Ozolua’s charity endeared her to many Nigerians who began to see her in another light. Her motive, she said, was to help the poor and the needy regain their lost body features.

    In the 11 years that BEARS existed, the organisation helped many indigent children and adult reconstruct either the face or other body parts. It was like regaining their humanity, pride and life. Using modern day medical technology, technique and skills to safely perform reconstructive surgical procedures to restore the lives of thousands of underprivileged people suffering from various types of physical congenital, developmental deformities, such as Vesico Vagina Fistula (VVF), cleft lip, cleft palate, burns and lacerations, cataract extractions, hernias, removal of tumors, cysts and fibroid.

    BEARS was also engaged in other humanitarian activities outside surgery, such as provision of relief materials and donation of food and clothes.

    This year, Ozolua again changed her strategy by changing the name of her highly successful humanitarian organisation from BEARS to Body Enhancement Foundation to better reflect the connection to her body enhancement company.

    “There isn’t a better time to draw people’s attention to what BEARS Foundation actually stood for. The acronym BEARS represented Body Enhancement Annual Reconstructive Surgery. Many people didn’t realise it was the charity arm of Body Enhancement Ltd, the company that pioneered cosmetic surgery in Nigeria, 13 years ago,” Ozolua said.

    But she insisted that the group did not change its name but only shortened it. She said: “When you look at what the acronym BEARS stood for, you will realise the name did not actually change, but has been shortened to Body Enhancement Foundation. In addition, as we conduct various types of humanitarian activities outside of surgeries, such as donations of items, exchange of skills, etc., and these are done more than once a year; it makes sense for the change.”

    The organisation has had its hands full in its 11 years of operation, especially from those in need of one body reconstruction or the other who can’t afford to pay for the usually expensive operation. Using volunteer doctors and funds from her other businesses, Ozolua has immersed herself in this life-saving venture, giving hope and life back to the poor and the needy.

    Her foundation is not only involved in free reconstructive surgeries, but also in helping other organisations cater for the poor and the needy. She said: “In the last few years, we have been quietly supporting other non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in their causes by donating money, books, toys and clothing to them. We also send money to different parts of the country to pay the hospital bills of patients who can’t afford to pay them. This year is no different. Our dedication to helping the underprivileged in our society still remains the primary focus of this foundation.”

    The beauty therapist also has a consideration for the victims of bomb blasts and her organisation is open not only to treat them but to feed them. “We come in and identify those who can benefit from us and try to impact their lives as positively as we can. Not just surgical, but means of feeding too. After all, a bed ridden person cannot go to work and earn an income.”

    Ozolua has memories of some of her clients. There was baby Funmi who had a cleft lip, Jude, a young boy with severe burns all over his body and Sulaiman who had a terrible and unusual growth at the back of his head. They all came and were restored. Operations like these, Ozolua said, give her happiness.

    But an experience with a particular patient had stuck with her for a long time. She was only a little girl with cleft palate problems which had been operated on several times.

    ”She must have been about eight years old when we did her surgery. About three years later, her mother brought her to visit me in the office. I will never forget how beautifully dressed she was and how big she had grown. I thought she wouldn’t recognise me as the woman who had been part of the team that restored her body to wholeness and who was in the operating room with her; but as soon as she saw me, she ran straight into my arms and held me tightly,” she recollected.

    Ozolua also held on to her tightly and to confirm she recognised her, the child said: “You are Aunty Modupe who did my surgery.” Such experiences, she said, were clear reminder that though many people may not appreciate her efforts, but for the little girl, for Jude and Sulaiman, ”all effort and sacrifices on our part is worth it”.

    Also in addition to the name change, the Foundation has a new Board of Trustees, which include the Director-General, National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr Paul Orhii; Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Turaki (SAN); the Adviser, World Bank, Edith Jubunoh and Prince Oluwaseun Ozolua.

    Archbishop Desmond Tutu is the patron of the Foundation. The new website address is: www.b-efoundation.org.

    Ozolua said her foundation is open for business of saving lives and restoring pride to the poor. “We will soon start publicised advertisement of our treatments,” she said.

  • Anambra carries out first heart surgery

    Anambra State has begun a heart surgery programme at St. Joseph Specialist Hospital, Adazi Nnukwu.

    It said the surgery is being carried out by a team of 15 doctors and medical workers, led by a cardiac surgeon, Dr. Joseph Nwiloh, who is an indigene based in the United States (U.S.).

    The first surgery was reportedly carried out last Saturday.

    A statement said Nwiloh  is globally regarded as one of the best cardiac surgeons.

    The building housing the heart clinic was named after him by the former governor, Mr. Peter Obi.

    The hospital was reportedly built “as a way of celebrating worthy Anambra sons and daughters and hold them out as role models for the young.”

    Nwiloh, who helped in equipping the centre, thanked God for His mercies and Obi for his vision.

    He promised to work harder to make the centre fully functional.

    Obi, who witness the first surgery last Saturday, said he was happy at the “many fruits of the collaboration between the church and the government.”

    He said he was happier that his successor, Governor Willie Obiano, continued with the collaboration, adding that the ultimate beneficiaries are the people.

    The President General of Adazi Nnukwu, Mr. Ben Enemuo, who spoke about the operation, said the town’s people were happy at the development.

    He thanked God for using Obi to initiate the heart centre and praised his successor for the promise to build on the foundation.

    Former Commissioner for Health, Dr.  Lawrence Ikeakor, who visited the hospital to witness the surgery, said with the development, Nigerians  need not travel outside the country again for categories of heart diseases requiring surgery.”

  • First heart surgery performed in Anambra

    First heart surgery performed in Anambra

    Anambra State may have started reaping the fruits of its massive investment in the health sector with the series of  heart surgery  at St. Joseph Specialist Hospital, Adazi Nnukwu at the moment.

    The surgery is being carried out by a team of 15 Doctors and medical workers led by the renowned Anambra State based USA  Cardiac surgeon, Dr. Joseph Nwiloh and is globally regarded as one of the best in the world.

    The building housing the Heart Clinic  was named after him by the former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, who built it as a way of celebrating worthy Anambra sons and daughters and hold them out as role models for the young.

    Dr. Nwiloh who helped in equipping the centre, thanked God  for His mercies and Peter Obi for his vision. He promised to work harder to make sure the centre becomes fully  functional.

    Gov. Peter Obi who visited  the state and was requested by Dr. Nwiloh to witness the first surgery on Saturday, said he was happy with the many fruits of the collaboration between the Church and the Government.

    He said he was even happier that his successor, Chief Willie Obiano has continued in the collaboration, saying that the ultimate beneficiaries are the people of the State.

    Speaking on the development, the  President  General of Adazi Nnukwu, Mr. Ben Enemuo said the people of the town were happy over the development. He thanked God for the gift of Peter Obi who initiated the Heart Centre and commended his successor for the promise to build on his foundation.

    The former Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr.  Lawrence Ikeakor who visited the hospital to witnessed to surgery said that with the development, Nigerians may not have the need to travel outside the country again for categories of heart diseases requiring surgery.