With a melancholic face, Master
Abdulsobur Jimoh, (a six and a half years old boy) looked forlorn as he
lay on the floor and watched other children play. After some time, he
made move to join in the play as it appeared he wished he could play
with other children but he did not have the stamina and so he relapsed
on the floor.
Abdulsobur Jimoh, (a six and a half years old boy) looked forlorn as he
lay on the floor and watched other children play. After some time, he
made move to join in the play as it appeared he wished he could play
with other children but he did not have the stamina and so he relapsed
on the floor.
Jimoh had been diagnosed by the
University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital with a hole in the heart, called
Tetralogy of fallot. His eyes looked sunken. With a dry smile and a
weak arm, he waved to welcome our correspondent to their residence, a
bungalow at Tanke area of Ilorin, the Kwara State capital. His parents,
Tajudeen (54) and Kudirat, (50) looked distraught as people who had been
overwhelmed by anguish.
University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital with a hole in the heart, called
Tetralogy of fallot. His eyes looked sunken. With a dry smile and a
weak arm, he waved to welcome our correspondent to their residence, a
bungalow at Tanke area of Ilorin, the Kwara State capital. His parents,
Tajudeen (54) and Kudirat, (50) looked distraught as people who had been
overwhelmed by anguish.
After Tajudeen who looked confused and
worried had welcomed our correspondent, Kudirat burst into tears as she
wanted to do the same.
worried had welcomed our correspondent, Kudirat burst into tears as she
wanted to do the same.
“Though I have three other children,
the suffering we have been undergoing because of Jimoh’s predicament
has been unbearable for us,” she muttered, while wiping her face and
fighting back tears.
the suffering we have been undergoing because of Jimoh’s predicament
has been unbearable for us,” she muttered, while wiping her face and
fighting back tears.
“It appears that the world would soon
collapse on my head. We had a horrible Christmas as the ill-health of
our son degenerated,” she further lamented.
collapse on my head. We had a horrible Christmas as the ill-health of
our son degenerated,” she further lamented.
Tajudeen, who kept his two hands on
his chin, continued shaking his legs and nodded in agreement with his
wife as she lamented, in an interview with our correspondent, said the
ordeal of the boy started at birth.
his chin, continued shaking his legs and nodded in agreement with his
wife as she lamented, in an interview with our correspondent, said the
ordeal of the boy started at birth.
According to him, Jimoh had problems
with his penis and anus at birth, but got a reprieve after operations.
He stated that after the two operations, it was discovered that the boy
had a hole in the heart.According to him, Jimoh’s academic advancement
had been hindered because of his current health challenge. Tajudeen said
the pupil is currently in Primary One as against Primary Two or Three
that he should have advanced to.
with his penis and anus at birth, but got a reprieve after operations.
He stated that after the two operations, it was discovered that the boy
had a hole in the heart.According to him, Jimoh’s academic advancement
had been hindered because of his current health challenge. Tajudeen said
the pupil is currently in Primary One as against Primary Two or Three
that he should have advanced to.
Jimoh
He explained that because of the
sickness, the boy, most of the times; did not attend school, but stayed
at home, where he could be monitored. He added that Jimoh had been
treated in some hospitals before his problem was diagnosed at UITH.
Tajudeen, an electrician and a father of four; said he and his wife,
Kudirat, 50, a petty trader; had sold all their belongings for the
boy’s treatment and were now financially handicapped with nothing else
left to sell for the child’s surgery abroad.
sickness, the boy, most of the times; did not attend school, but stayed
at home, where he could be monitored. He added that Jimoh had been
treated in some hospitals before his problem was diagnosed at UITH.
Tajudeen, an electrician and a father of four; said he and his wife,
Kudirat, 50, a petty trader; had sold all their belongings for the
boy’s treatment and were now financially handicapped with nothing else
left to sell for the child’s surgery abroad.
He therefore called for financial assistance and other forms of help to enable the child access medical treatment in India.
He said the cost of the surgery in
India, according to UITH, is N3.5m; while flight tickets, other
logistics and management of the patient after surgery, given the
fluctuation of the exchange rate, could be about N2.5m
India, according to UITH, is N3.5m; while flight tickets, other
logistics and management of the patient after surgery, given the
fluctuation of the exchange rate, could be about N2.5m
Tajudeen said, “When he was born, he was
operated when he could not urinate. Later, another problem arose; he
was not excreting from the anus. His anus as well was operated on. It
was later that it was discovered that he was having a hole in the heart.
operated when he could not urinate. Later, another problem arose; he
was not excreting from the anus. His anus as well was operated on. It
was later that it was discovered that he was having a hole in the heart.
“We have gone to many hospitals. We have
been at the teaching hospital and they were managing it. But it has
reached a level where it can no longer be managed in Nigeria. UITH said
it will cost N3.5m but with the fluctuation in exchange rate, it could
be about N6m including flight tickets, logistics and management of my
son after surgery.
been at the teaching hospital and they were managing it. But it has
reached a level where it can no longer be managed in Nigeria. UITH said
it will cost N3.5m but with the fluctuation in exchange rate, it could
be about N6m including flight tickets, logistics and management of my
son after surgery.
“I am therefore pleading with the
Federal Government, Kwara State Government, other state governments and
local governments, Non-Governmental Organisations, donor agencies,
corporate bodies, religious, social and cultural organisations,
kind-hearted Nigerians and philanthropists to please help me get my son
out of the problem by donating financially and otherwise towards his
planned operation in India.”
Federal Government, Kwara State Government, other state governments and
local governments, Non-Governmental Organisations, donor agencies,
corporate bodies, religious, social and cultural organisations,
kind-hearted Nigerians and philanthropists to please help me get my son
out of the problem by donating financially and otherwise towards his
planned operation in India.”
A letter from UITH signed by a consultant paediatrician/cardiologist,
Dr. J.K. Afolabi confirmed that Jimoh was diagnosed with a hole in the heart.
He stated that this makes the boy turn
blue when he is exposed to any stressful condition. Afolabi, who is also
a senior lecturer, University of Ilorin, said the only treatment option
for the patient is open heart surgery.
blue when he is exposed to any stressful condition. Afolabi, who is also
a senior lecturer, University of Ilorin, said the only treatment option
for the patient is open heart surgery.
According to him, this can only be
carried out abroad. “But the parents are poor and cannot afford this
huge medical bill abroad. I am therefore appealing for your generous
financial assistance to enable the child carry out the surgery.”
carried out abroad. “But the parents are poor and cannot afford this
huge medical bill abroad. I am therefore appealing for your generous
financial assistance to enable the child carry out the surgery.”
Contacts and financial assistance could
be made through: Tajudeen Jimoh, Guaranty Trust Bank, Account Number:
0109495526. Phone: 08052025173.
be made through: Tajudeen Jimoh, Guaranty Trust Bank, Account Number:
0109495526. Phone: 08052025173.