By Mabinty M. Kamara
Medical authorities in Koinadugu in northern Sierra Leone say they have moved a young mother who recently delivered quadruplets to a district health facility for close and proper supervision.
Twenty-five-year old Bondo Thoronka delivered her four babies on Friday, 11th September, at a peripheral health facility in Alkalia Village, Kalia Chiefdom, Koinadugu District.
Bondo and her farmer husband have been expressing concern about the economic implication of their status, citing their humble background.
But while the medical authorities share the concern of economics, they also say the family needs medical attention as a safeguard against unforeseen circumstances.
Dr. Alieu Dauda Tarawalie, Medical Superintendent of the Kabala Government Hospital, the largest health facility in the district, told Politico that even though they don’t appear to be in any danger, they had to move the mother and her babies in fear of them developing possible complications that the local health post where she delivered could not have handled. Tarawalie said they had discovered that Ms Bondo did not attend antenatal clinic in pregnancy and that he only visited the PHU which was closest to her when she went into labor. He said there was no medical record on her.
According to the Medical Superintendent, it’s because the woman didn’t attend antenatal clinic that they couldn’t detect beforehand the chance of her delivering quadruplets.
Dr Tarawallie praised the staff of the PHU where the woman delivered for having done “their best” to save both mother and children.
"Being that the place she delivered was not ideal, so she was brought to the Kabala Government hospital where she could be safe,” Dr Tarawallie said in a telephone interview.
He added: “There might be post complications, but so far both mother and children are doing well. They are breast feeding well, but we started giving them formula milk yesterday to compliment the breastmilk.”
Dr Tarawallie said the mother’s breastmilk isn’t enough to cater for the four babies. Yet the World Health Organization recommends that all babies should be breastfed exclusively for six month.
Since news about the quadruplets surfaced, concerns have been on the ability of the parents to take care of them.
Dr Tarawallie echoed this sentiment, noting that he wasn't sure that the parents, who barely rely on subsistence farming for their livelihood, could care for the children well. He is calling on the Sierra Leone Government and other humanitarian agencies to support the family in raising the children.
"And of course, I have to emphasize that these are very poor people. On their arrival at the hospital, they brought absolutely nothing with them. However, we have tried to do our best, but so far not much has been done and one thing I discussed with the wife and husband was for them to open an account in the wife’s name.”
As of Wednesday, this account hadn’t been opened yet.
In a video posted on social media, Mr. and Mrs. Thoronka make personal appeal for public support.
Sources say this is Ms Bondo’s second birth. Her first child didn’t survive.
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