Anambra Couple Recount Hardship Following Welcoming Triplets, Cry for Help

Anambra couple, Mr and Mrs Asiegbu Mmadubuko have solicited help from the public to cater for their new triplets; two girls and a boy named – Ibetom, Okuanata and Chukwusomeje. They revealed the state government previously helped by presenting N2,000, a bag of rice, 12 toilet tissues, 1 Dettol liquid, 1 packet of pears soap and 1 pears cream for children through the State’s Ministry of Women Affairs, but these did not do much in alleviating their hardship.

According to Saturday Sun, the couple did not know they were going to have triplets until Oluchukwu had a surprise birth at their home on June 16th.

Narrating the babies’ unexpected birth and the hardship afterwards, the triplets’ dad, Asiegbu, said:

“On the 16th June, 2015 around 2am, my wife woke me up amid deep groaning, telling me that she was in labour. Before I could lead her out of the house in order to take her to the local birth attendant where she used to go to for antenatal, the baby started coming out. The whole event surrounding it was so strange to me because I had never witnessed that kind of thing before. I don’t know what to do and where to start…I summoned courage and went down to the local birth attendant who presided over her antenatal although it’s a bit far from my house. At first, she declined to come to our aid saying she could not come out by that time of the night but I begged fervently; explaining the pathetic condition of my wife…Before we knew it, my wife was delivered of a second baby…I was dumbfounded. I don’t know whether to start rejoicing…Still surprised, they told me that the third child has come out. Ha! I never expected that my wife would be delivered of twins talk more of triplets. Just then, my wife collapsed; shaking very convulsively. She was bleeding too. Lord! I was seriously devastated…But the nurse said I should bring her to her own ‘clinic’. She said she could handle it. There again the problem of transport means popped up. But luckily, my brother’s car was available so he came over and we headed to the nurse’s apartment. But my spirit was not comfortable with the treatment the nurse was giving her because she wasn’t responding to the treatment as expected. I was praying fervently for the day to break so that I could seek alternative means. In the morning, I rushed her to Amaku General Hospital, Awka. I was hoping that the government would come to our aid given the condition we found ourselves…she started shaking convulsively in the hospital…Thank God they were able to manage the convulsion and bleeding and other complications…I expended about N200,000 which I borrowed from the village meeting in that hospital. That is in addition to N180,000 I had earlier saved, waiting for her delivery date. At a point, I told them that the money I borrowed has been exhausted. I pleaded with them to direct me on how I can get assistance from the Anambra State government. Sadly, because I was no longer able to pay for their numerous medical bills and drugs, they stopped attending to my wife…As we speak, I owe many people heavily…The health workers did not tell me exactly what the problem was, rather, they were blaming the local nurses who attended to her in the village. They said she was supposed to undergo caesarean operation. I said God forbid; thanking God it was not through operation…

Due to lack of money, we left the hospital before the due date to the village. As we speak, my wife is still sick. The newly born babies are not feeding well. All we are offering them is pap. There is no way she can breastfeed the three of them at the same time. The nursing mother should be feeding very well so that the breast would be producing enough rich milk for the infants. I am just managing the whole thing…Her postpartum has been ruled out because there is no money. At a point, I wrote a letter to the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development humbly requesting for their assistance. I also attached pictures of all of us while in the hospital. But since that month of June to date, they did not respond…I had to go back to the ministry to know what has been holding back my humble request for assistance…When I went to Child Department, I didn’t see anybody but a corps member…Later they directed me to another office, which also directed me back to Child Department. I waited a whole day without result and I had to go back home. Unfortunately, my first two children, a girl and a boy fell seriously sick due to malaria fever recently. I was just returning from the chemist shop where I took them to get drugs and saw some people in my house. They said that it was Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development that sent them. They came with 1 bag of rice, 12 pieces of toilet tissue, 1 Dettol liquid, 1 packet of pears soap and 1 pears cream for children, and N2000. They said that I shouldn’t come back to the ministry again. They said the N2000 was for my sick children. I wrote that letter on 22nd June, 2015. It was just three days ago that these officials from the ministry came to my village. My wife would have died if not the assistance the village meeting rendered to us.”