Help save Islamat from the jaws of death

RASHIDAT Alaka Bolanle, a resident of 21, Alebiosu Street in Ketu, Lagos, could not hold back her tears as she narrated to The Guardian the ordeal she has passed through since she gave birth to little Islamat Alaka, now three-and-a-half-years old. Bolanle said: “I noticed the swelling in her private part when she was three months old.

I tried everything possible to prevent further swelling until she was seven months old.

Then, I was advised to take her to General Hospital at Agege where we spent three months and the doctor told me that a surgical operation must be done to save her life.

I was referred to Ikeja General Hospital, but when I got there in 2012, I was told that the hospital could not attend to my baby due to the large number of patients and that we should wait till 2014.

“I took her to the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, on September 13, 2013 where she was diagnosed with cancer, and I was told that I needed to get money ready for the operation.

One of the doctors, Dr. Odukogbe, told me that he could proffer a solution to the problem and that the girl would be given chemotherapy injection once in a week.

I spent N40, 000 every 15 days but after spending months with no improvement, the doctor told me that surgical operation was the last resort. An operation was carried out in her swelling private part. Unfortunately, a few months later, her stomach started swelling.”

The initial medical report when Islamat was seven months old stated: “The seven months old child present in our hospital today with vulva swelling of three months duration, on examination, there was a large vulva swelling lender 44 and assessment of vulva mass was made. She is, hereby, referred to you for expert management.”

Another medical report from UCH confirmed that Islamat was once on chemotherapy injection.

A letter with the breakdown of the amount needed to carry out a surgical operation estimated the amount of money needed to N818, 004.00 Bolanle, is therefore, appealing to all Nigerians to help safe her child. She can be contacted on 0816917793.

Contributions can be sent her account. Account Name: Alaka Rashidat Bolanle Bank Name: Diamond Bank Account number: 0062132395.