Nigeria: Baby With Exposed Intestines Still Alive

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Leadership (Abuja)

29 June 2008
Posted to the web 30 June 2008

A child born with exposed intestines is still alive in Jalingo, Taraba State. And, according to doctors, he will make it. The parents, rather than wear a long face over their predicament, have expressed gratitude to God for giving them a child.

sparing the life of the abnormal child. She said: "My husband and I are not upset. Rather we appreciate God. We call on all well-meanng Nigerians to assist us in saving the life of the child."

LEADERSHIP Sunday gathered that efforts to save the abnormal baby born on that fateful Saturday morning at the Jalingo Specialist Hospital received a boost on Thursday as the authorities of the Jalingo local government have agreed to pay the first N1million required to move the child to a teaching hospital for care, medication and subsequent surgery.

Dr. Joel Rimande, the chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC) of the hospital, told newsmen in his office on Thursday that the abnormal baby was sound and strong and that the hospital had received assurances from the chairman of Jalingo LGA, Ali Sani Kona, that they were ready to pay the N1million cash to enable the parents of the child transfer him to a teaching hospital for intensive medication.

According to Rimande, the doctors and the nurses at the specialist hospital are doing their best and the child is faring well, but due to lack of specialists at the hospital they suggested that the child be moved to a teaching hospital where such complicated cases are mostly treated by experts.

He explained that the case of the child required the attention of highly specialised pediatric surgeons and neonatologists to take care of the child up to a time that he is strong enough to withstand anesthesia for surgery.

According to the medical expert, surgery cannot be undertaken on the lad at this stage because they have to allow him to reach a point where there will be enough space in his body.

The baby who is yet to be named was born with an exposed intestine, which the doctor said is called Omphalocele. He said such abnormal cases occurred as a result of malformation in the process of fertilisation and mostly due to the consumption of un-prescribed drugs or alcohol or hard drugs by pregnant mothers.

The CMAC, who took journalists to the ward where the baby was receiving treatment, said: "If the child is properly taken care of, no doubt he will surely survive."

The child was looking strong and the nurses confirmed that he was feeding well.

Dr. Rimande said as soon as the money is released to the parents the child will be moved. He said that, already, arrangements were going on to either take them to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital or the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital in Zaria.

Mrs.Balasa who was at the hospital with her husband, James, told newsmen that the abnormal child was her fourth issue and that she observed all the usual ante-natal tradition during the pregnancy stage. She, however, noted that she gave birth some few days before the date fixed for her scanning.

According to her, the pregnancy was associated with a lot of pains compared to her previous pregnancies.

The parent expressed appreciation to Ali Sani for his quick intervention and also called on other well-meaning Nigerians to assist them.

Also speaking to LEADERSHIP Sunday, Ali Sani said the situation was quite pathetic and that he was bent on doing anything within his reach to save the life of the child, noting that "building hospitals and provision of essential amenities by government is not enough, we need to also assist those in critical condition to get good medical attention. These are all dividends of democracy".

With a pathetic voice he said: "We can't watch the innocent boy die helplessly."

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