The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Sunday, pledged to cover the medical care and expenses of a 12-year-old boy, Adebola Akin-Bright, whose small intestines were reportedly missing.
Sanwo-Olu made the announcement on his profile on X (formerly Twitter) when he paid an ‘unscheduled visit’ to the boy and his mother at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital,
The governor also mentioned that he’ll ensure Adebola gets better and reunites with his loved ones.
He said, “I paid an unscheduled visit to Debola Akin-Bright at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).
“After listening to Debola’s mum and the medical officers in charge of his care, I gave him my word that I would not only take over his medical care and expenses, I would also ensure that everything is done to get him better, and back at home with his loved ones.”
Recall that the boy’s mother, Deborah Abiodun, had pleaded with the governor to probe the disappearance of her son’s small intestines, which according to her, occurred while the boy was receiving treatment at LASUTH.
However, the hospital management denied the allegation in a statement made on its profile on X, on August 12, 2023.
In another statement issued on September 3, 2023, the hospital management further clarified its stance on the issue.
The statement read, “Once again, the hospital management needs to clarify issues on the insinuations being made by a mother in a viral video that the alleged loss of her son’s intestines after surgery is a matter between a private hospital and LASUTH. Our hospital is an excellent tertiary institution with highly knowledgeable and skilled medical consultants.
“We are also equipped with state-of-the-art facilities. The patient in question was referred to our hospital after having two surgeries carried out in a private hospital.”
It read further, “He required extensive optimisation in our facility before a corrective surgery could be carried out. At the surgery, which was carried out by an experienced pediatric surgeon and her team certain strange findings were discovered. There is a video clip of these intraoperative findings. The mother was informed about these findings but she appeared to be in denial.
“The hospital is in possession of a comprehensive report of the findings by a high-powered panel that it quickly set up to look into all ramifications of this case.
“Clearly, our hospital carried out a corrective surgery and did not wilfully remove any organ or structure. We empathise with the family of the patient. We believe that financial assistance from any quarters will be in order but we do not think that a blackmail of the state government via social media is the best approach.”
“The hospital management is cooperating with the state agency which is already investigating this rather unfortunate case,” it noted.