A 13-year-old boy, Emmanuel Nwafor, who was diagnosed of nasopharyngeal tumor, a likely cancer growth, has undergone successfully surgical operation at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH).
Consequently, he has been discharged from the tertiary health facility.
Emmanuel, whose father died when he was just three-year-old, was operated by a team of surgeons at UITH on Friday and the biopsy that was removed from his body had been deposited at the department of Pathology of the hospital for further examination.
LEADERSHIP recalls that the founder of the Foundation for Advocacy and Sensitization on Tuberculosis (FAST), Dr. Misitura Lawal-Arowona, had on Monday announced that her Foundation will bankroll the bill for Emmanuel’s surgical procedure.
The Foundation promptly settled the medical bill and this paved the way for the performance of the surgery on Friday.
As part of follow-up on the patient, the Foundation visited Emmanuel and his family on Saturday at their residence in Oko Erin area of Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
The founder of FAST, Dr Misitura Lawal-Arowona, expressed delight about the successful operation and thanked the UITH surgeons who carried out the operation.
She lamented that lack of support for patients of both minor and major ilnesses has led to the death of so many people who could have been useful to the growth and development of the society.
Lawal-Arowona, a lecturer in the Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry at Kebbi State University of Science and Technology in Aliero, further assured Emmanuel and his family of the continuous support of the Foundation.
Responding, Emmanuel Nwafor thanked the Foundation for rescuing him and bringing hope to his life, stressing that, “I will like to become a medical doctor when I grow up so that I will be able to assist the less-privileged, especially, the people who don’t have good health and can’t afford to settle their hospital bills.”
Emmanuel’s mother, who is a practising journalist, Madam Ndidi Nwafor, expressed appreciation to the Foundation, adding that, “since the demise of my husband about 10 years ago, I have been shouldering the burdens of the needs and wellbeing of the family alone. I have three kids and it has not been easy, but I thank God that assistance came to us through this your Foundation.
“May God never put you to shame in life. This matter has really gotten me devastated and confused, but now, I am relieved and thankful to God,” she added.
LEADERSHIP reports that Emmanuel Nwafor is an SS1 student of a private secondary school in Ilorin.
