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'AKOM' IN THE MBU - WHEN A MOTHER SUDDENLY BECOMES A PRIESTESS

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  “Boss, you won’t believe what happened today!” Juliet, the indefatigable medical officer for the paediatric unit, exclaimed. I was on leave, but as her senior, she would call me to discuss complex cases. “What happened?” I asked. “One of the mothers at the Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) started dancing around in circles and chanting,” she said. “Really? Why?” I asked. She then narrated what had happened. The son of this woman had been on admission at the MBU for a while due to the nature of his illness. As is usual in our setting, the relatives at home started asking questions. It was revealed to the mother that her sister-in-law was responsible for the baby’s illness and she needed to bring the baby home for rituals. The baby’s maternal grandfather, a fetish priest was the one going to perform the rituals, so they requested that the baby be discharged. Unfortunately for the family, but fortunately for the baby, according to our laws, a child who needs medical care cannot be disc...
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Gold is a mineral of immense value, often leading to environmental destruction in its pursuit. However, there's something even more valuable, and it's readily available to you. Unlike gold, it doesn't require destroying water bodies or land. This 'white gold' is breastmilk, an invaluable resource that you, as a mother, provide for your child. Why is there a need to draw attention to breast milk?   Because it's a treasure that's often overlooked. Breast milk contains the right amounts of nutrients for the growth and development of babies. Its composition changes as the baby grows to meet its changing needs. The initial yellow breast milk(colostrum) that flows in the first 2 to 4 days is rich in minerals, antibodies, and protein. It changes into transitional milk from days 5 to 14, and from day 14 onwards, mature milk starts flowing. This mature milk, rich in carbohydrates and fats, helps the baby to gain weight. Certain substances in breast milk, called...
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BE THAT HAND

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  She would come for review with her 4-year-old son firmly strapped to her back. The boy was heavy but how could she allow him to walk beside her? He would be all over the place and they would get stares. She  couldn’t afford a wheelchair that could keep the child strapped and restrained. I wondered what the journey on the commercial vehicle was like. He had been diagnosed with Autism, Epilepsy and had symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder  (ADHD) . He was not speaking yet and had no friends. Not all his medications were covered by the national health insurance scheme, and some were costly. In a country where the few inclusive schools and rehabilitation centres are mostly found in the cities and are not free, the future looked gloomy for him. His mother didn’t have a stable job. She was the one caring for him, so it was not feasible for her to look for a well-paying job that would require her to be away from him. I remember speaking to the father of ...
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