Opemsuo Radio Donates To 5-Year-Old Without Anus
Anorectal Malformation was diagnosed in 5-year-old Priscilla Mensah Takpa three days after she was born to Madam Dorine Akelinzena.
The condition which is a birth defect, occurring in 1 out of 4,000 newborns globally, according to record, is the inability of the rectum and anus to develop properly during pregnancy.
Head of Pediatric Surgery at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Dr. Michael Amoah says such conditions can be corrected through a surgical operation that costs not less than Eight Thousand Ghana Cedis (¢8,000).
He indicated that anorectal malformation correction conducted at the teaching hospital ranges between two to three monthly, quite higher than that of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.
According to research, three different surgeries are required in correcting this defect; Colostomy (the opening of the intestines), Posterior vaginal repair and perineoplasty (separating rectum and vagina while allowing bowel function to be maintained or corrected without interfering with sexual function), and Closure of Colostomy (closure of the opening to the intestine).
Priscilla Mensah Takpa undertook the first surgery a week after birth but failed to continue the process due to financial constraints, her mother told opemsuo.com.
Opemsuo Radio, a subsidiary of the Ashanti Broadcasting Corporation has donated an amount of ¢5,000 to Little Steps Foundation, a charity foundation set up by Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in taking care of sick children including babies in Ghana by raising funds to support treatment and equip medical and nursing staff at the hospital. This donation will create the opportunity for little Priscilla to undergo the second surgery on December 7 this year and the third surgery, three months after.
The amount was presented to the Head of Pediatric Surgery, Dr. Amoah, by General Manager for Opemsuo radio, Mr. Kwabena Bosie-Amponsah, and Programs Manager for Opemsuo radio, Mr. Richard Owusu Korkor.
Mother to the girl narrated how she got in touch with Opemsuo radio and expressed her profound gratitude through words.
“My husband listened to one of your programs and called in for help and he was contacted by the radio station later. I am overwhelmed by the gesture. I never thought I would come across help, I thank Opemsuo radio, God bless them”, the teary mother said.
The donation forms part of the corporate social responsibility of the radio station.
The anorectal malformation is characterized by lack of stool, stool coming from the vagina, stool in the urine, urine coming from the anus, and constipation.
Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini
