By: Joyce Kantam Kolamong
A 9-month-old baby boy from Sognaayili in the Sagnarigu District of the Northern Region is in dire need of GH₵12,000 for a life-saving skin grafting surgery at the Tamale Teaching Hospital. The baby (name withheld) has been diagnosed with Necrotizing Fascitis of the Lower Limb, a condition that has left him with a severely damaged leg.
In view of this, he is to undergo Skin Grafting at the hospital.
According to his father, Alhassan Yakubu, who is a painter, the condition started as a small pox on the baby’s left leg, which was initially treated with herbal medication. However, the condition worsened, and the baby had to be rushed to the Tamale Teaching Hospital.
“We sold some of our properties and even borrowed to raise money for the initial treatment, but we cannot afford the GH₵12,000 needed for the skin grafting surgery,” Mr. Yakubu said.
He is making a heartfelt appeal to the public for assistance. “As a painter, I have limited financial means, and my wife is a housewife,” he explained. “We are reaching out to the public to help us raise the funds needed for our child’s surgery. Our dream is to see our child walk normally when he grows up, and we cannot achieve this without the support of kind-hearted individuals.”
A house officer at the Tamale Teaching Hospital, Dr. Farouk Pumaya, explained that the baby’s condition is critical and requires immediate attention. “Necrotizing fasciitis is a progressive disease that spreads rapidly if left untreated. The skin grafting surgery is essential to save the baby’s leg from total damage,” he said.
“If we don’t intervene promptly, the infection will continue to spread deeper into the tissues, causing extensive damage. This will ultimately have severe consequences for the baby’s overall health. Therefore, it’s essential that we take immediate action to stop the infection and prevent long-term complications,” he emphasized.
The Medical Social Work Unit of the Tamale Teaching Hospital has appealed to organizations, religious bodies, cooperative institutions, and individuals to support the baby’s treatment.
Donations can be made to the following accounts:
Stanbic Bank: Tamale Branch
Account Name: Alhassan Yakubu
Account Number: 904009750570
Momo Name: Alhassan Yakubu
Momo Number: 0242233467
The family and the medical team are counting on the public’s support to save the baby’s life.
