By Oladipo Airenakho
Benin City – For a mother, knowing that she is on the verge of losing a son due to inability to procure medical treatment for his illness is the most painful, dreadful, emotional and psychologically devastating experience.
Such is the situation with Mrs. Charity Atoi, a Benin-based street trader and mother of four-year old boy, Testimony Atoi, diagnosed with the medical condition, called bladder exstrophy.
Mrs. Atoi is crying out to Edo State Government, well-meaning individuals and organizations to assist her procure the necessary medical treatment for her son who now just lives by the day waiting to be snatched away by the uncompromising hands of death, if nothing is urgently done.
Testimony Atoi, according to her was born with the medical condition, but due to her poor financial condition she has been unable to raise the needed money for doctors to effect the needed surgical correction.
According to a medical report from the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, signed by Doctor Egwakhide E., a Consultant Paediatric Surgeon, made available to Alltimepost.com, the financial implication of little Atoi’s surgical operation is in the neighbourhood of N300,000.
The University of Benin Teaching Hospital, she said has given August 2, 2016 for the surgery, but she cannot think of anywhere to get the money on her own.
Testimony’s mother who combines hawking of sachet water with petty trading however says she cannot afford the amount required for the surgery.
Mrs. Atoe who is originally from Uromi in Esan North-East Local Government Area of Edo State, while presenting her case to Alltimepost.com enumerated several efforts she has made to have those in authority come to her son’s aid.
According to her, she wrote a letter of appeal for help to Edo State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Jemitola Anena and submitted it through one Mr. Amadasun in Children Affairs Department of the Ministry, but so far she has not received any response since the past two months.
Mrs. Atoi said she also made several trips to the ministry to check on the status of her appeal letter, but nothing positive has come out of it.
As at press time, Alltimepost.com was unable to reach the commissioner and Mr. Amadasun for comments. For those who want to help, Mrs Atoi can be reached at: 08151656832.
