By Bill W. Cooper
The Inquirer Newspaper has gathered that a 20-year old mother in Gbongoma, Hahun District, has given birth to a baby with Spina Bifida, a birth defect that affects the spinal cord and can cause a range of physical and developmental challenges in Lofa County.
Amie Joseph, according to report, was shocked when she learned about her baby’s condition following his birth but despite the initial shock, she remained strong and determined to give her child the best possible care and support.
Spina bifida is a birth defect in which an area of the spinal column doesn’t form properly, leaving a section of the spinal cord and spinal nerves exposed through an opening in the back as it occurs in 1 per 2,000 live births in the US and is the most common central nervous system birth defect and around 1,500 babies are born with spina bifida in the U.S. each year.
Also, Spina bifida is a condition that occurs when the spine and spinal cord don’t form properly. It’s a type of neural tube defect. The neural tube is the structure in a developing embryo that later becomes the baby’s brain and spinal cord and the tissues that enclose them.
According to a local radio station correspondent, the baby, Momoh K. Joseph, was born on June 3, 2024, at the Vahun Health Center but a week after his birth, little Joseph was pronounced in need of urgent surgery to sustain his life.
The Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Vahun Health Center, Steven Kanneh confirmed the child’s condition and emphasized the need for immediate medical intervention, noting that the infant is currently leaking spinal fluid, something which indicates the critical nature of the situation.
At the same, Mrs. Johnson disclosed that they lack the funds required for the surgery, thus seeking help from Kailahun Hospital in Sierra Leone but were referred to Freetown due to financial constraints, and had to returned to Gbongoma, hoping for help.
According to her, she has already begun seeking medical advice and support for her baby, working closely with the Vahun Health Center professionals to ensure that her child receives the best possible care.
She, at the same time, pleading with government and humanitarian organizations for assistance to help save her child’s life, expressing her hope that her child will get the best of medical care despite the challenges that lie ahead.
