UCH stresses commitment to amputee baby’s care

By Sade Oguntola - 07.02.2008

the Chief Medical Director of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Professor Abiodun Ilesanmi, has reaffirmed the hospital’s commitment to the upkeep of Baby Kehinde Babalola, whose hand was amputated due to medical error.

This followed a rally by the relatives of the child, spearheaded by a non-governmental organisation, the Social and Economic Rights Action Centre, over an alleged negligence by the hospital to adequately compensate the girl.

Professor Ilesanmi, speaking at a press conference to explain the steps the hospital had taken so far on the baby whose hand was amputated on May, 2004, said the hospital was not happy about what happened and so, the board approved that the child and the parent be relocated to a three-bedroom bungalow at a cost of N4 million.

He said the board also approved that the girl enjoyed scholarship to the university level, free treatment of all her health problems and an artificial arm (prosthesis).

Professor Ilesanmi said the board had not failed in fulfilling the agreement which, he said, had he Minister of Health’s approval because what was uppermost in the heart of everyone was to stabilise both the life of the girl and her parents.

“We are currently responsible for her schooling, her daily transportation to and from school, her medical bills. And already, we have paid for a prosthetic hand for her at Baptist Medical Centre, Ogbomoso,” he said.

However, he said the hospital could not meet the request for monetary compensation as a palliative measure for the injury and inconveniences, which the parents suffered as a result of the amputation.