…mothers recount preterm babies’ journey to maturity
Blessing Taiwo
In commemoration of world prematurity day, Babies Matter Medical Centre, (BMMC), a subsidiary of Outreach Signature Hospitals in Lagos, has rekindled hope for preterm babies and their families.
At a party organised at the hospital premises to celebrate prematurity day on Sunday, Co-founder of BMMC, Lekki, Dr. Efunbo Dosekun harped on the need to save the lives of preterm babies.
Dr Dosekun, a paediatrician and neonatologist, said science has created opportunity for preterm babies to live and without any form of disabilities.
On the BMMC Lekki success story, the expert said the hospital has looked after 39 babies in one year, adding that the facility is working on expanding its capacity.
“The preterm babies are healthy and their parents are happy celebrating today. Let us save these lives. Don’t let us flush all these lives away. Science has created that opportunity for these babies to live and none of them have any form of disability.
“There is hope for women through IVF, surrogacy or adoption. Everyone can have a child, directly or indirectly.”
In her remark on what the prematurity day represents, Dr Zainab Mudasiru
Clinical Lead, Babies Matter Medical Centre, said it is a day to acknowledge the millions of preterm babies all over the world.
Dr Mudasiru said, “world prematurity day was started about 14 years ago. It is a day for the world to remember and acknowledge the millions of preterm babies that were born all over the world. It is reported that one in ten babies worldwide are born prematurely before 37 weeks gestation.
“This day, we raise awareness for premature babies and their mothers who go through very challenging times. These babies fought to survive.
“It is also to support these parents and extend an arm of love, hope and support you them. We are here to celebrate them and say well done to the babies and their parents for their resilience and strength to survive the process.
“The youngest preterm baby we have had was 25 weeks. We have so many success stories of these babies.”
Recounting her experience, one of the mothers present, Mrs Tolulope Adeosun, said her two babies spent 14 weeks at BMMC after they were born prematurely.
Mrs Adeosun appreciated the hospital and NEM Health, a health maintenance organisation (HMO), for ensuring her babies had unhindered access to all the care they needed.
“We have been married for 18 years and we are grateful to God that we are finally going home with Ayanifeoluwa and Araifeoluwa, after spending over 14 weeks at BMMC.
“We will never forget BMMC and NEH health for ensuring that our babies are alive and also in good condition,” she said.
Another mother, who came from Ogun State for care, Mrs Halima Arigbabu said she came over when one of her twin babies had seizure after birth.
“The doctors were amazing, they took charge of the situation. They were here for six weeks. It was a hard experience but they made it easy for us and stress free,” she recounted.
