From Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki
In Afikpo, Edda and Ivo local government areas of Ebonyi State, their children have life-threatening surgical ailments, including hydroceole, an abnormal accumulation of fluid in their scrotal sacks.
This particular ailment, according to a medical expert, Dr. Moses Ude, can reduce the quality of life of the children sufferers and affect chances of impregnating their wives later in life, if not treated.
Apart from hydroceole, the children in these local governments also suffer umbilical hernia, inquina hernia, lumps and undescended testes. These ailments are so common among the children that one can easily notice it. While some of them came with it from birth, some developed it after birth and grew with it without medical attention, which includes surgery, to survive in life.
A cleric, Maurice Ekuma, said because of lack of money for medical attention of the children living with these ailments, many parents assume their children will outgrow the ailments in life.
“Because of the prevalence of surgical cases of children, many children have these surgical cases or impairments that parents sometimes assume they can live with it, parents sometimes think that it is costly to pay for surgery and these children grow up with these impairments and begin to blame parents or even blame the world for not intervening in their matter during the time they were still young. So, that is why we are embarking on this to save these children from further damages.
“Sometimes in their lives, some of them die as a result of complications from these conditions and these are the future of our dear country Nigeria, these are the future of our their communities, these are the future of this state, Ebonyi State and if you save them now, you have saved the future of the country,” he told Daily Sun.
Dr. Oko Christian, the founder of a non-governmental organization in Afikpo, Healthy and Smart Children Foundation that recently performed free surgeries on 100 children suffering the ailments told Daily Sun that approximately 1.75billion worldwide lack access to surgical care.
The outreach, which started in Afikpo from July 11 to July 14, 2024, ensured free surgeries by medical doctors for the treatment of hernia, hydroceole, undescended testes, lump and other ailments discomforting children between 0 to 18 years.
Oko said: “Approximately 1.75 billion children worldwide lack access to surgical care. Despite surgery being able to address around 30% of the global disease burden, in low and middle income countries (LMICs), up to 87% of surgical needs are unmet.
“Each year, Nigeria, with a population of about 230 million, with nearly half aged 0–19 years, sees 2.9 million of them requiring elective surgeries. Without sufficient access to surgery for commonly treatable diseases, many are at risk of disability and higher mortality rates.
“In Ebonyi State, many of these children have been neglected due to financial constraints and lack of access to surgical care. Thus the children are left to die or grow up with deformities that will affect their future.”
He noted that the foundation conducted a research in the three local governments and discovered that there was a prevalence of hernia, hydrocoele and undescended testes in children, with Akpoha communities in Afikpo local governments having the highest cases.
“We did a public health research in Afikpo, Edda and Ivo LGAs and observed that there was a prevalence of hernia, hydrocoele and undescended testes in children, with Akpoha communities having the highest numbers.
“Unfortunately, these children grow up with these deformities because their parents cannot afford surgeries. It became increasingly important that such a surgical mission is done to help meet up with the need for paediatric surgery in those communities.”
He added: “Centre of Hope Hospital Limited is located in Afikpo and has world-class infrastructure. We applied for a partnership for this surgical mission and were given express permission to use their 4 equipped theatres, numerous beds and other facilities present. I think it is the best anywhere and we received a warm welcome as the Director said it is in line with their purpose.
“The total cost of hernia surgery for a child in a teaching hospital is about N350,000, while undescended testes can be up to N550,000. This total cost in a private hospital may be up to N500,000 for hernia and N700,000 for undescended testes.
“This is because the child has to be on general anaesthesia and needs an expert anaesthetist, unlike in adults, where a cheaper spinal anaesthesia can be given. This amount is costly for many average income Nigerians and they may prefer to abandon the child to fate than spend such. So, going by the teaching hospital, it may cost up to 35-55 million naira for 100 children, which may be up to 50-70 million naira in private hospitals.”
“I think the government should be better concerned about our children as they can become whatever we inspire them to be. They should not be neglected because statistics say there are many. They can never be too many to be neglected. I think their health and education should be of high priority to the government. Children born with congenital malformations should be offered free care as they can easily be neglected by their parents because of poverty and their possible dreams can be lost.
“Parents should prioritise the health of their children. Every child is important, with a great future and any disease noted must be reported to the healthcare centre for good care. Registration with the insurance scheme can be a strategy to minimise the cost of healthcare services.
“I thank our individual donors and the Centre of Hope Hospital for giving us their hospital facilities. I must appreciate the surgical team of volunteers and all others who have contributed to the success of this mission,” he added.
Ogba Justice Isu, from Akpoha, said his daughter suffered hernia for four years and was not operated on because of financial issues, but got relief due to the free surgery.
“I’m grateful to the organizers of this surgery and the team of doctors. My daughter suffered for four years because of hernia. However, she has now gotten relief because of the surgery. I didn’t pay a dime for the surgery. The only expenses were the transportation from Akpoha to the hospital and feeding,” he said.
On his part, Emmauel Oko Uche from Ngodo said his child had hernia three months after he was born and that the cost implication for the surgery prevented him from approaching the hospital, but has gotten a reprieve from the medical outreach.
“My child was operated on successfully today. I am glad that my son is a beneficiary. It was double hernia and he suffered greatly as he is just three months. However, I am grateful the NGO came to our rescue. May God bless and replenish the doctors and sponsors,” he said.
Jacinta Oseh from Ishiagu, said the daughter, Chizaram, was operated on for the removal of hernia, after it was diagnosed when she was one.
“The hernia was diagnosed when she was one. She is five years old now. We didn’t have money for the operation and we were begging God for intervention. God has produced someone who sponsored the surgery and it was done free of charge. We are grateful to the doctors and sponsors,” she said.
A volunteer nurse with the NGO, Ohuche Celestina Ijeoma, said the outreach was stressful, but worth it as they gave children and families another chance to live.
She said: “My happiness is that we were able to give the parents and children another chance to live by offering the free surgery outreach.
“Most of these children and their families have lost hope. They suffered unimaginable pain and trauma and the zeal to live was no longer there. However, the surgeries have brought back their joys and their happiness elevated. The financial stress has been removed from them. I am happy to have participated as a volunteer nurse in the exercise. No matter how stressful it was, there is fulfillment and satisfaction.”