The timely intervention of Member of Parliament for the Afram Plains North constituency, Hon. Betty Krosbi Mensah has saved the life of a five-year-old boy, Callem Apema from Fassorbattor suffering from a hole-in-heart condition.
Little Callem Apema was diagnosed with a hole-in-heart condition in February 2021, at Cardiothoracic Centre in Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.
The parents who couldn’t afford the cost of the surgery had to return home where the plight of the child came to the attention of Hon. Betty Krosbi Mensah during one of her usual community visitations leading to her immediate intervention for the boy who was pale, inactive, malnourished with blackish-red eyes and swollen fingers.
According to Hon. Betty Krosbi Mensah, her interest in children is not political but as a mother, she cannot watch her children suffer when she can do something to support them.
Her motherly love triggered her to order for the child to be taken back to the Korle-Bu Teaching hospital for prompt medical attention even as she raises funds for the total cost of the surgery. The total cost of the first stage of the surgery was $2,500 (the equivalent of GHC14,500)
The Member of Parliament who visited the child at the hospital expressed gratitude to the medical team at the Cardiothoracic Centre for a successful surgery and was a delight to see the child healthy and energetic after the surgery.
Grandmother of little Callem Apema, Mrs Mary Padi on behalf of the family was full of gratitude to the Member of Parliament for her show of urgency, motherly love and humanness.
She was equally thankful to the medical team and all well-wishers for their professionalism, care and the love extended to them.
Director of the Cardiothoracic Centre of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr Lawrence Agyeman Serebuor commended the MP for coming to the aid of the little child who he indicated would have suffered a stroke.
The hole-in-heart disease he noted rendered little Callen pale, swollen fingers, blackish red-eyed and malnourished since he could not eat properly.
The first stage of surgery he stated had ensured that more blood is diverted from other parts of the body to the lungs.
Dr. Serebuor who is a cardiothoracic surgeon disclosed that little Callem will have to undergo a second and final phase of the surgery at a higher cost within one and a half to two years to make him healthier and grow functionally.
He indicated that the cost of heart surgery is expensive and urged corporate institutions, philanthropists and the general public to extend support to the Cardiothoracic Centre to aid people suffering from heart ailments.
Source: Kasapafmonline.com/ Ebenezer K. Nyavor