Ngora parents seek help for ailing five-month-old

When Jane Ikiror was born, her parents Patrick Oler and Hellen Aanyu were filled with joy at having a child added to the family. However the joy was short-lived as soon as they noticed that all was not well with her.

Ikiror, now five-months old, was born with a defect and cannot defecate normally. She suffers a congenital malformation of the anus.

A senior surgeon at Soroti Regional Hospital, Dr Joseph Epodoi, said the condition, which is known as imperforate anus, is usually discovered during physical examination of the child at birth. The condition makes it difficult for babies to pass stool normally.

Within 24 to 48 hours after birth, the baby does not pass stool and in some cases there is a missing or moved opening to the anus.

In baby girls, the anal opening will instead be very close to the genital organs and for boys the alternate anal passage is normally at the base of the scrotum or urethra.

“The problem is caused by abnormal development of the foetus and if the rectum connects with other organs, then the organs will also need to be repaired,” said Dr Epodoi.

“A careful surgery is required in this case to correct such conditions but can be more complicated depending on the nature of case,” said Dr Epodoi.

Temporary correction
Doctors at Soroti Regional Hospital improvised temporal corrective surgery but the child still requires further surgery.
Dr Epodoi said this specific complication could be corrected but the facility lacks the equipment required for such cases.

“The problem could have been corrected here [in Soroti] but we do not have the necessary equipment. It is expensive, especially for the poor and cheaper services are available at Mulago,” he said.

Oler and Aanyu are seeking help for their child. They need to raise Shs2 million, which is required for the child to undergo an operation to correct the abnormality.

The parents, residents of Nyamongo Village in Ngora District said they have failed to raise the money for the girl to undergo a specialist surgery at Mulago Hospital.

“I have no money for the treatment. I cannot sell the land (either) because it is only one acre that is there,” Mr Oler said calling on any Good Samaritan to come to their assistance.

To Assist: If you would like to assist the couple, you can call Mr Gilbert Ninsiima, the Ngora District Internal Security Officer, on 0772672522.

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