Led by Wife of Nigeria’s Senate President, H.E. Mrs. Toyin Saraki, the Wellbeing Foundation Africa team has intervened to save a newborn – barely a month old – who was born with a rare eye defect.
Born on the 9th of November 2015 with a painful, large tumour (the size of a small orange) protruding out of his left orbital socket, Baby Victor was in dire need of surgical intervention. Unable to raise funds for the surgery – which was then estimated to cost upwards of N400,000, his parents Mr. and Mrs. Emmanuel Sunday from Igede, Benue State, desperately sought assistance to save their only child.
Upon being made aware of Baby Victor’s condition, H.E. Mrs. Toyin Saraki mobilized the Wellbeing Foundation Africa team to conduct further investigation into the child’s medical situation and she provided a donation for the costs of the child’s pending and future care. This donation was received with gratitude by both the parents of the baby, as well as the staff of the hospital, the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) that takes care of Baby Victor.
To facilitate his treatment, Baby Victor, was referred to Gbagada General Hospital and then to LASUTH.
Following the surgery’s success, Mrs. Toyin Saraki and the Wellbeing Foundation Africa team paid Baby Victor and his family a visit on Friday, December 4th 2015 at the LASUTH. In addition to the donation made towards Baby Victor’s eye surgery, Mrs. Saraki made a further financial donation to the LASUTH Neonatal Ward, to supplement their Alaanu Fund – a pool of donations meant to cater to the health costs of patients who unfortunately cannot afford healthcare.
Received by both the Consultant Neonatologist, Dr. Disu and Consultant Paediatrician and Head of Department of Paediatrics at LASUTH, Dr. Animashaun, Mrs. Toyin Saraki was commended for her tenacity and passion for alleviating the suffering of mothers and children in Nigeria.
Mrs. Saraki has been “A shining light in Nigeria, regarding maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health,” stated Dr. Disu. Officially noting the donation, Dr. Animashaun expressed enthusiasm in establishing a partnership with the Wellbeing Foundation Africa to provide assistance to those in need. In response, Mrs. Saraki thanked the doctors and other health workers for their steadfastness, and promised to continue to collaborate with LASUTH as necessary, especially in the areas of emergency obstetrics and newborn care (EmONC) training; and civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS).
To formally assist those unable to pay for medical care, the Wellbeing Foundation Africa has developed the Alaafia Universal Health Coverage Fund (AUHCF), which provides affordable health insurance for 5,000 Nigerians yearly. Today, thanks to the aid and compassion of others, Baby Victor remains stable and is expected to make a full recovery.