Children named after Governor Ayade
An inmate in Calabar Prison, Cross River State, was last Thursday delivered of twin children, a boy and a girl.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Inyang Asibong, who disclosed this in Calabar on Saturday, said he received a distress call from the prison authorities about an inmate who had labour complications.
Immediately, he said his team swung into action to attend to the emergency situation.
He said the woman, whose name he did not disclose, had post-delivery complications and had to be referred for expert management.
“The Cross River government has taken responsibility for the set of twins delivered by a female inmate of the Calabar Prisons.
“The lady was delivered of a set of twins, a boy and a girl, and unfortunately developed some postpartum morbidity and had to be referred for expert management.
Meanwhile, the prison authorities had decided to keep the identity of the woman under wraps saying it is classified information since the woman is still serving her sentence.
Meanwhile too, the state governor, Prof. Ben Ayade donated N1 million and other gift items to the management of the General Hospital Calabar for the upkeep of the mother and the twin children.
Ayade who was represented by Asibong during the donation said the gesture was a special Easter gift to the mother of the twins.
“The beautiful babies deserve love and care. Right now, the mother of the twins is not with us because we had to refer her to a higher facility for further medical attention. But she had a successful Caesarean Section.
“We have these two beautiful babies here with us. We will be following them up regularly and today we are here to present a special gift for their upkeep.
“We are donating a cash amount of N1 million and these items to the hospital to help in the management of these children until the mother is well, safe and sound.
“Further, we are going to have discussions with the prison authority to know the next step in what to do.
“But as we speak, the state government is handling the care of the children because we care and we are in the season of Easter,” said Ayade.
Meanwhile, the commissioner said the governor has executive powers adding “we are going to work with our social welfare unit to try and see the extent of the crime and know if the mother can be pardoned because of these two beautiful children.”
Responding, the medical superintendent of the hospital, Dr. Etim Ayi, commended the state government for its magnanimity, love and care for the inmate.
Ayi said the babies were delivered in the facility by Caesarean Section before the mother was referred to a higher facility due to some complications.
“The mother of the twins is an inmate. She was brought here in labour with some complications.
“But we had to deliver her here with the help of some physician before referring her to a higher facility for further medication.
“As we speak, the mother is recovering quite well and the babies are also fine. We just received the Easter gifts and cash donation for the upkeep of the children,’’ he said.
