Charles Ekanem|20 February 2017
It will be recalled that 4 weeks ago a severely malnourished child belonging to a teenage mother was picked up by Dr Betta Edu at eight miles Calabar where the child was waiting to die. News was placed on social media and other media platforms calling on well spirited Nigerians to support the child to stay alive and send the teenage mother who had finished only primary school, back to school.
3 weeks after in response to this call, renowned Calabar top entrepreneur Mr Richard Akinaka has asked for the relocation of the child to a private hospital, promised to take care of the malnourished baby's medical expenses at the Joebong Skin and Medical Centre where he ordered that they be relocated to for proper medical attention. He also promised to grant scholarship to the mother to further her education to any level she wishes to attain. While assuring them that he will give 30,000 Naira every month from his children's savings as up keep for mother and child.
He thanked the DG SPHCDA and State Government for their care, support and prompt response to the needs of the dying child and mother while calling on members of society to always reach out to such numerous cases in the society.
Young miss Esther whose one year, six month old baby suffered from malnutrition and is recovering from the ailment after several intervention from some well meaning Cross Riverians said amidst tears that she could not believe her baby could live again. "For all of you that have done something to help us, God will bless you and return back to you many times. I really thank you Sir (Mr Richard Akinaka) and the DGÂ Dr. Betta Edu. Now I can go back to school when I leave the hospital"
Responding in tears the teenage mother Esther thanked Mr Richard Akinaka for his kind gesture praying for God to replenish him and bless his family.
Earlier Speaking, DG CRSPHCDA, Dr Betta Edu said the wonder baby who is a baby of another "baby" (a teenage mother who dropped out of primary school) was totally wasted, severely malnourished and waiting to die when we picked her up. According to her she was hospitalized and going through series of Laboratory investigations including chest xray, having medications and following some nutrition regiment build up, the baby is alive, strong and getting better.
I wish to sincerely thank Dr Ayi and the entire General Hospital calabar team, I thank Mr Richard Akinaka who has not only sent in support to keep this child alive, but has taken more steps to see that the mother returns to school. Barr Attah Ochinke, Sylvia Abaokporo, Vera Beshel, Eyo Deprince, Nnena Ikpeme, Ignatius oli, Doyin from USA and a few others who bothered to stop by and lend a helping hand at the initial stage, God bless you all.
"Finally, we are at the end of the tunnel….God bless Mr Richard Akinaka for this kind gesture, you can never go unrewarded!!!", Dr Edu concluded.
Charles Ekanem
Writes from Calabar
