Helping Baby Andrew
Sonala Olumhense

I am delighted to join the wonderful Nigerians who are working hard to save ‘Baby Andrew

This young Nigerian is only 13 months old, and the child of Rev. Anthony and Rosemary Duku.  But Baby Andrew is no normal child; he has Down Syndrome (DS).

DS, the experts say, is a condition resulting from a person having extra genetic material than is required for normal development.  People with DS have 47 chromosomes, one more than the 46 that normal people get from their parents. 

Although some children born with this problem may actually lead a healthy life, DS invariably prevents a child from developing normally.    They are usually mentally and physically challenged, and require perpetual attention and assistance.  The cause of DS is unknown, but women at age 35 or older have a significantly higher risk of having a child with DS. 

As they learned this information, Baby Andrew’s parents must have been distraught.  Nothing prepares a young couple for a challenge of this nature.  But they are receiving the comfort and expertise of the Down Syndrome Association of Nigeria (DSAN). 

Here, however, is the crisis of the moment: Baby Andrew has been diagnosed with a cardiac condition described as “perimembranous ventricular septal defect.”

In plain language, this means if Baby Andrew is even to have a good chance at life, he requires urgent surgery to correct a heart defect.  For this procedure, he will be sent to India, if the funds can be found.  That is where DSAN, which has worked with footballer Kanu Nwankwo’s Heart Foundation in the past, usually sends such children.

Why not more magical locations such as England or the United States?  Well, India has the necessary facilities and expertise.  And these surgeries are undertaken at a “reasonable” cost.

The budget for Baby Andrew’s surgery is just one million, two hundred and fifty thousand Naira (N1,250,000).  That is actually a small fee when you recognize we are talking about a human life.  I am here today to urge every Nigerian who reads these words to make a contribution. 

I am supporting the campaign to raise funds for this little boy because he needs us.  And I have many readers and friends, some of whom are both comfortable and kind.  I ask them, and through them, their friends and families, to help Baby Andrew and support Mr. & Mrs. Duku.  If you stand up for nothing and nobody else this year, stand up for Baby Andrew.  Get someone else to stand up with you, and beside you.  Let us surprise this boy with how much we care.  He could have been you.  Or me.

Baby Andrew’s story is available online at nigeriavillagesquare.com, and contributions can be made online worldwide, or through several contacts in three countries on three continents.  In Nigeria, call DSA at: 01-8119718, 01-2704710, 080-27797418, 080-32285545; in the United Kingdom, call Uche Nworah at +44-7985-280-210 or Anne Mordi at +44-7984-947-777; in the United States, call Philip Adekunle at 502-741-0310.  

If you are in any other country on earth (and I know you are there because I receive letters from places I have to look up on a map), you can send your donation to anyone connected with this effort, including through Pay Pal or Western Union.  You can even conduct a fundraiser for Baby Andrew this week.  Ask someone in Lagos to visit DSAN for you.  Whatever you do, don’t stop at nothing.  I know Nigerians worry about parting with their credit card numbers to other Nigerians.  You do not have to, because I know you can find some other way to pitch in.

In addition to publishing this story, I am forwarding the full Baby Andrew story online to everyone in my address book to request their help.  I suggest you do the same.  Remember, every penny is important.  To save time, you can obtain pledges from friends and relatives, pay the pledges yourself and collect your debts later.

But here is the most important thing we can do for Baby Andrew: donate today, because nobody can guarantee his condition tomorrow.  Donate today, before the cares of the new week take over.  Donate today, before you settle down to the soccer game against Ghana, unless you pledge double if the donation is after the match, win or lose.  And remember, if you sacrifice the “in-match” entertainment, your donation can be much higher. 

You can ask friends in the church for contributions.   The pastor may even be willing to put his hand in his pocket or take an additional collection for Baby Andrew if you are willing to ask.  Don’t forget the pastor’s wife; they are sometimes so generous.  If the pastor asks you to present the case before the congregation, simply tell them that this is love in practice, and the reason we worship.  An innocent baby needs help. 

All donations are required right away because the baby, who is currently at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, is running out of time.  A late donation is as bad as no donation at all.

I know Baby Andrew is a stranger to you as he is to me, but where there is love, there are no real strangers.  Thank you for every penny and every kind thought.

Nuhu Aliyu: Beyond fiction

I am happy that contrary to my original plan, I am not devoting my column this week to Nuhu Aliyu.  He is the Senator who told the nation nearly two weeks ago that the National Assembly was loaded with fraudsters.  He was so “incensed” about the issue he offered to name them all.

Nigeria was abuzz with anticipation, particularly since the Senator said his information dated from his days and investigations as a Deputy Inspector-General of Police. 

Trouble is, Senator Aliyu was lying.  I do not know exactly when he lied. It may have been when he made this claim.  Or it may have been one week later, last Wednesday, when he returned to the floor of the house and shredded his credibility.  He tendered an apology to the Senators, claiming to know of no fraudsters in the Assembly after all.  Even in an ethical and moral vacuum such as Nigeria’s, Senator Aliyu gets the certificate for top of the class.

What really surprises me is that Nigerians feel so scandalized by this experience.  What is the problem?  It is the same infernal double-speak, double-face, double dose of nonsense that the Profoundly Decadent Party (PDP) has always served.

The only problem is that Senator Aliyu gave the game away.  He was no longer going to do his duty by his country and unveil fraudulent legislators.  It had become more important for him to protect his friendships in the National Assembly, he implied.  “We must remain absolute, strong and united as a single family,” he said.  “I know both members of the House and Senate have tremendous respect for me.  I want to keep that respect.”

This is the old “PDP alibi:” keep it in the family, no matter how scandalous.  The only difference is that, in this case, Senator Aliyu tenders a strange word, respect.  Respect?

Respect, Senator, is not when you strip naked in the market place.  You may put on your clothes, but you will never again be dressed.

·        sonala.olumhense@gmail.com*

Robot  Villager

# 1 var sbtitle1591=encodeURIComponent(The Guardia...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 02.02.2008 17:48

agbonizuanghwe  Villager

# 2 The question on my mind for this and similar cases that have come up in the press is "what happens to those who have no press connections and therefore get no publicity in support of their cause?" We can only do something for those we see I guess.:sad: Posted by agbonizuanghwe| 08.02.2008 14:22

Anike  Bibi ire: Agbe Gboko Rosu

# 3 =agbonizuanghwe;4294987291>The question on my mind for this and similar cases that have come up in the press is "what happens to those who have no press connections and therefore get no publicity in support of their cause?" We can only do something for those we see I guess.:sad: I think the same thing. "What about those people on the verge of death, or battling with different treatable conditions, but do not have access to, or know how to gain access to, the proper channel to seek help or choose not to air their dirty laundry for all to see and die in silence?". "What if people who really care unite and collab with existing facilities and help to improve these facilities so that the next Baby Andrew would not need to go far to India to be treated, and the one that will not live to get to India still gets to stand a chance?" May the Lord help us all. For me, I am okay with knowing that, even though I can't help everyone in need, not necessarily financially because who dash my monkey banana, I am able to help those I come across, either by sparing a thought for them and saying a prayer for them, telling someone about them (either to raise funds for them or to ensure that, if they do die, they don't do so in vain because someone is taking caution from their story), hoping with them they sail through, or whatever other means there is. Choosing to live can sometimes be the hardest choice to make, but yet one one must make. Life is hard. :sad: Encouraging article. Times like this, when people reach out to a Baby Andrew, I get really proud to be a Nigerian. We really do care about our fellow Nigerians. I guess, despite all the odds, that is one of the reasons we're still a force to reckon with, whether people admit it or not. Posted by Anike| 17.02.2008 10:25