Erelu Bisi Fayemi Visits Infant Afflicted With Eye Cancer

Wife of the Governor of Ekiti State, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, with a two-year old boy, Daniel, who is afflicted with cancer of the eye and the baby's mother, Mrs. Tosin Popoola, during a visit to the boy at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital preparatory to surgery sponsored by the state government.

Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, has indicated the decision of the state government to pay for the treatment of a two-year-old boy, Master Daniel Popoola, who is afflicted with cancer of the eye.

She gave the cheering news when she visited the boy at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, where he is already receiving medical attention on the bill of the state government.

The acting Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Kolawole Ogundipe; and the state’s Commissioner for Health, Prof. Olusola Fasubaa, were on hand to furnish the First Lady with information about the condition of the boy. During the visit, the governor’s wife gave the mother of the boy, Mrs. Tosin Popoola, an undisclosed amount to assist in her upkeep as the boy undergoes surgery in the hospital.

Erelu Bisi Fayemi, who was visibly moved by the plight of the infant, said it was unfortunate that his condition was allowed to degenerate to a sorry level before the parents presented it to the public. She used the opportunity to admonish parents to be vigilant to the health condition of their children and to take them to standard health care facilities for diagnoses as soon as they noticed changes in their health condition.

Erelu Bisi Fayemi counselled families to guard against self medication and guesses whenever they noticed any sign of ailment in any member of the family, irrespective of the age.

The governor’s wife said that the government was concerned about the well being of citizens and would always assist indigent families confronted with medical or social crises.

She expressed delight in the assurances given by the management of EKSUTH that the boy would be treated in the hospital, which she said would make it easier for her to monitor his progress until doctors certify him fit for discharge.

The mother of the infant, Tosin, said the husband, Folorunso, had visited several places for solution to the ailment without success.

She said what appeared like a boil about two months ago when the boy’s travail began later deteriorated to a festering sore, which doctors later diagnosed as cancer. The woman said that attempts by the parents to raise money from several sources were unsuccessful until they approached the state government b y writing separate letters to the governor and his wife.

She said the letters received immediate response from the first couple who directed that the boy be taken to EKSUTH for immediate treatment. The surgeon in charge of the boy’s case, Dr. Foluso Owoeye, expressed regret that the boy had lost the affected eye due to the degree of the cancer.

As part of the treatment, he said the patient would be placed on chemotherapy for nine months after the surgery to kill surrounding cancer cells and to ensure that the case did not relapse.

Last modified: August 7, 2013