Babajide Sanwo-Olu. Governor, Lagos State. |
The
Lagos State Government, through the Office of the Public Defender (OPD), has
averted the death of a 14-day old baby who was severely jaundiced at birth but
the parents refused to consent to the urgent blood transfusion recommended for
her survival.
Speaking
on the incident over the weekend, the Director, Lagos State Office of the
Public Defender, Mrs. Olayinka Adeyemi explained that the baby girl (name
withheld) was delivered prematurely at a private hospital in Surulere on 18th
of December, 2019 to a family residing at Abata Close, Orile-Iganmu.
According
to her, “The baby at birth was discovered to be severely jaundiced and
therefore recommended for urgent blood transfusion to survive. However, the
parents of the girl who are Jehovah Witnesses, and on Medical Insurance (HMO),
vehemently opposed the blood transfusion for the baby citing religious belief
and decided to force the discharge of the baby contrary to medical advice”.
“It
was the critical health condition of the baby and deviant position of the
parents that made a concerned member of the public inform the Lagos Office of
the Public Defender to save the child from untimely death”, she added.
Adeyemi
said the Agency responded immediately by getting a Court order based on
relevant sections of Lagos Child`s Rights Law of 2015, Lagos State Safeguarding
and Child Protection Policy of 2016 and in collaboration with the Nigerian
Police from Adeniji-Adele and Orile Stations rescued the baby from the parents’
home despite stiff resistance from other mobilised members of the Jehovah
Witness on 30th December, 2019, before the baby was taken to Massey Street
Children Hospital for necessary treatment.
She
revealed that the rescued baby, who lost weight due to lack of medical
attention, is currently enjoying a free medical treatment in line with the
current administration’s policy of free and qualitative medical services for
the people of the State.
The
Director maintained that no responsible and responsive government will fold its
arms and allow any parent or guardian to act ignorantly on religious grounds in
a way that would be injurious to the life of any other person, especially their
children or wards.
She
reiterated that the present administration in its avowed commitment to
providing good governance and security would leave no stone unturned when
protecting the rights of women, children, the vulnerable and indigent residents
of the Lagos State, irrespective of gender and religion.
While
noting that the OPD was not oblivious of the fact that many people’s rights are
being violated due to ignorance and poverty, she urged members of the public to
take advantage of the OPD’s free legal services to get redress, protection and
enforcement of their rights, assuring that the State Government would continue to
work assiduously until the supremacy of the rule of law reigns in the State.
Mrs.
Adeyemi, therefore, enjoined all residents to continue to furnish OPD with
relevant information on violation of human rights for necessary support and
legal action.
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