By Mohamed Konneh
FREETOWN, Aug. 3 (232News) – The Sick Pikin Project last Saturday flew Devine Kamara for surgical operation to India. Baby Devine is among babies suffering from congenital heart disease and had to be flown to India for surgery.
This was made known at the Sick Pikin usual media update at the Caritas Freetown office, St. Edwards School compound, Kingtom in Freetown.
Speaking during the briefing the Sick Pikin Lead Campaigner, Ishmael Alfred Charles said Baby Devine was heading for India and will have her operation done at the Max Super Specialty Hospital, in New Delhi.
He said the baby needs oxygen onboard the flight, noting that her condition was critical.
Charles used the occasion to talk on two other sick babies who had gone to India for surgery but are back after having a successful operation.
“Tania had a successful surgery and we also had Alie Foday Bassie, who gone through their own surgeries. These two children have returned and we now have Baby Devine Kamara that will depart on Saturday for her surgery. We continue to appeal to Sierra Leoneans for support, he said.”
The Lead Campaigner noted that the Sick Pikin Project was inspired by a single baby (Mustapha) who had a life threatening situation with little hope of survival.
He said Baby Mustapha was suffering from Biliary Atresia and needed a liver transplant.
He said after Baby Mustapha many other babies have been saved through the efforts of the project’s campaign.
He expressed concern over the lack of better facility in country that will help in such cases, noting that many families are poor to an extent that they find it extremely difficult to even survive on daily basis.
“When a baby falls sick, it increases the pressure and poverty as they have to sell all their valuable properties to augment medical bills to an extent of becoming a beggar and lost their dignity.
It is against the backdrop that the Sick Pikin Project was established to help beg for these families, he noted.”
He said the sick pikin project is now campaigning for “Wan Sober hospital in Salone”.
Without this the state will continue to lose while these countries continue to develop.
The Sick Pikin Project manager, Alice Johnson in her statement said sixty children have benefited from the sick pikin project and that 23 more are on the waiting list.
“The cases are numerous but the funding is creeping in very low.
Mother of Devine, Janet Kamara, thanked God Almighty for the opportunity and most importantly the sick Pikin project for raising funds for her child to travel to India for surgery.
“It has not been easy looking at the money involve. I prayed God take us to India and bring us back safe. I can’t say much until after the surgery.
