Akinjide Oluwatope, Ondo
The incident of child abandonment in our towns and cities are on the rise, it is a frightening phenomenon in Nigeria. However, efforts by the Ondo State Government, Health institutions and thw NGOs at eradicating this social menace cannot be over emphasized.
On the 9th of July 2021, a 3-year-old abandoned girl was found, dumped in a gutter at Ayeyemi, Ondo city and was brought to the UNIMED Teaching Hospital Complex (UNIMEDTHC) accident and emergency crash ward.
The girl-child was brought unconscious, terribly cold, tied in both legs and arms and put inside a bag.
Immediately, the UNIMEDTHC personnel swung into action to save the life of the dying child despite the Industrial strike action of the Medical doctors in the state. A critical medical care was given to her for days until she regained her consciousness up till the time of her discharge.
The CMD, Doctor Oluwole Ige expressed his delight when the representative of Ondo State Ministry Of Women Affairs And Social Development was invited by the Teaching Hospital to take up the continuous social management and care of the girl-child. The CMD appreciated clinicians from paediatric and physiotherapy departments for saving the life of Esther, the 3-year-old girl-child.
Mr Ariyo Idowu, the Director Of Social Service Department in Ondo West Local Government also appreciated the Teaching Hospital for the medical care rendered to the abandoned child who basically had no chance of surviving if the hospital had not stepped up into her situation.
He showed sense of gratitude to WHO I AM foundation, an NGO that foot the medical bill of the child in the hospital. A sum of #50,000 from the Ondo West Local Government was given to the NGO as token of appreciation, saying it is a priceless effort from the Good Samaritan and the NGO. He encouraged the general public to emulate such a humane act. He assured that the state government will take necessary procedures in fostering care of the child.
Earlier the CMD, Dr Oluwole described the deliberate and premeditated act of the parents or guardian of the abandoned girl child as a bad act. He advised the general public to desist from such depraved and heinous acts.
Akinjide Oluwatope is the Head, Media and Communication, UNIMED Teaching Hospital.
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