Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
Oraifite Community in Anambra State has pledged to give full support and special assistance to the raising of quintuplets delivered at Life International Hospital Awka, recently.
The babies were delivered by 28-year-old Mrs. Chidinma Amaechi who is a wife to Mr. Tochukwu Amaechi, an indigene of Umunakwa Ifite Oraifite in Ekwusigo Local Government Area, Anambra State.
Mrs. Amaechi who finished her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) mid-last year, gave birth after almost a decade of marriage to Amaechi who is an Onitsha-based petty trader.
But what was supposed to be a blessing seemingly turned out a nightmare for the couple who are seemingly struggling to pay off N7.5m medical bills that have been incurred throughout the process of the delivery.
The couple explained that the bill for the incubators alone stood at N250,000 per day and had pleaded for help from relations, friends, governments, and good-spirited individuals to intervene in the situation.
However, the President General of Oraifite Improvement Union (OIU), Sir Vin Dike, who led other prominent sons of Oraifite to the hospital earlier in the week expressed gratitude to God for the safe delivery of the children.
The PG assured that the community will do everything possible to help the family raise the children.
He said: Oraifite Improvement Union will do everything possible to get international, local, and community support alongside our little help to ensure that the children are well taken care of.”
The community leader who personally pledged N250,000 also called on the state government to support the parents of the new kids in offsetting the bill.
Describing the children as a blessing to both the community and state, the PG reassured that the community will still deliberate on how best to assist the family in raising the children after their discharge from the hospital.
Responding, Mr. Amaechi, on behalf of the family, commended the PG, the entourage, and the entire people of Oraifite for the support and show of love.
Ikengaonline reports that the babies, three boys, and two girls, are currently being cared for at the intensive care unit of Life International Hospital after they were delivered through the caesarian section. They are expected to stay in the incubators for around 30 days before they could be discharged.