Revealed:Dame Jonathan Pays For 800 Heart Surgeries

More than 800 Nigerian children with heart related problems have been sponsored to India for treatment by A. Aruera Reachout Foundation, an NGO being run by the wife of Nigeria’s president, Dame Patience Jonathan.

Mrs. Jonathan however declined to take the credit, giving all the plaudits to God.

Jonathan gave the thanks in Abuja when she received the last batch of children sent to India by the NGO for heart-related surgeries in 2013.

“I want to thank God for their safe trip to India; there has been no story of deaths or unsuccessful cases; we praise God on behalf of these kids.

“We have treated more than 800 patients with no record of casualty; I’m happier than you, the parents’’, she said.

The wife of the President said she was pleased to learn that some of the kids had enrolled in schools and appealed to the parents to return the children to the foundation should complications arise.

“Please don’t take them to native doctors, return them to the foundation and please learn to pray for them. You as parents are in the best position to pray for them.

She informed the parents of the 250-bed heart hospital under construction “which will hopefully be open to the public this year and we believe it will be one of the best.

“We are partnering with our international friends from South Korea, India and America who will run the hospital.’’

Mrs Yemisi Oyewole, the Senior Special Assistant to the President, who coordinates the activities of the NGO, described the new phase of the children’s lives as “rebirth.

“As mothers, we can imagine what these mothers have gone through and where they’ve been in the course of seeking solution to their problems.

“We know that when a child is sick, the mother is sick and heart treatment is not cheap, it’s expensive. This care was provided at no cost to these families and we thank the first lady for giving the kids a new life.’’

Dr Daubry Stevens, the NGO doctor, in his report, said 86 children applied to the foundation, 36 were short listed to travel to India while the remaining were treated here.

“Of that number, 17 were discharged as fit. These are the last batch of 13 children that left for India in November 2013. They were evaluated and booked immediately for surgery.

“Their post-operative period was successful. Before they came to us, they had spent a minimum of five to eight months in various hospitals. They had plenty scars on their bodies but since our return, none of them has had any cause to visit the hospital.’’

Miss Aisha Aliu, who gave thanks on behalf of the children, said “I thank you for saving my life, for your contribution towards my heart surgery, may God bless you ma.’’

Hajiya Habiba Abdulsamad, who spoke on behalf of the mothers, said “we thank you for saving the lives of our children and for feeling our pain when we went through the most difficult period; you are God-sent.

“I’m also happy to hear there’s a clinic under construction in Nigeria for cases as these because there are lots of children with heart problems.’’

Some of the children present were: Rabiu Obere from Nasarawa; Sultan Lamidi from Lagos; Salamatu Abdulsamad from Kano; Noah Ezeilo from Imo and Sita Omago from Akwa Ibom.