Nigerians, e be things!!

Earlier in May, I got a call, instructing that I report to the field - a baby who was born of a drug addict mother in the FCT had been abandoned.

With mixed emotions I got dressed, was about to step out of the house... (1)

when I remembered Coro(navirus) might be waiting at the gate, so I went back in to cover up with PPE.

Upon seeing baby (Kaososiso), my tongue felt very dry and his story broke me.

Kaosiso was born in April 2020 by a drug addict mother. (2)

Throughout her pregnancy cycle, she indulged in crack cocaine and heroin and when Kaosiso was born, he was displaying withdrawal syndrome and could pass as a preterm baby because he was underweight.

When he was only 4-day-old, his mum took him to the streets... (3)

used him to beg for alms and planned on using the proceeds to buy drugs.

It was at that point she was arrested by NAPTIP. By the time baby Kaosiso was taken to the hospital, he was near death.

Now, a critical level of jaundice for most newborn babies is from 5 mg/dL...(4)

Kaosiso’s jaundice level was 13.3 mg/dL. It went downhill from there but sometimes, there’s light at the tunnel.

Read his story on @TheICIR Here’s a link! https://www.icirnigeria.org/pandemic-baby-meet-one-month-old-baby-born-of-a-drug-addict-mother-in-abuja/

light at the end of the tunnel*