Father discharges boy attacked by dogs against medical advice

Master Omonigho Abraham, the four-year-old boy who sustained extensive injuries to his body and a life threatening avulsion injuries to his scalp following a vicious attack by two Alsatian dogs has been discharged by his father, Mr. Odia Abraham against medical advice.

The boy was discharged by his father on Friday from the Burns and Plastics unit of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) where he was receiving specialist care.

Master Omonigho Abraham the father

The boy was attacked by the dogs in their rented apartment at 35, Adegboyega Street, Akesan, Igando area of Lagos State on September 29.
Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, who made this known on Monday while reviewing report of the plastic surgery specialists in LASUTH who attended to Omonigho stated that the boy’s father took ill-advised step and chose to take his son out of the hands of the plastic surgery specialists in LASUTH on November 28, against medical advice after being thoroughly counselled that healthy granulation tissue growing on his son’s skull must not be interrupted.
He said all attempts to talk Abraham against taking this wrong step were rebuffed by the man who even signed necessary papers to show his desperation.
Idris noted that whilst conservative wound management was being done in the Burns and Plastic Ward, in LASUTH, the Lagos State Government set plans in motion to take Omonigho abroad for further management, where all expenses incurred would be covered by the state government adding that his parents were informed of every step of the process, and had close and continuous contact with the State Ministry of Health.
“After a thorough search, a suitable hospital was found that would care for the young boy. The chosen facility was the RAK Hospital, Dubai UAE. LASUTH established a communication channel with RAK Hospital and it was determined that Omonigho would require a meshed skin graft coverage of the exposed skull for the next phase of his management. The governor thus approved the funds for the management of Omonigho, which includes travelling, feeding and accommodation at the Rak Hospital in Dubai, UAE”, the Commissioner stated.
He pointed out that the boy’s father was promptly informed of the plan and was invited to the State Ministry of Health to discuss the details of the approval, travel plans and hospital arrangements, and was thereafter given a letter of approval stating the plans to fly his son abroad and was asked to provide his son’s passport with an accompanying family member in order to process visas and other travel requirements.
“However, Mr. Abraham informed us that a Non-Governmental Organisation from Delta State has made arrangements to fly him and his son for medical treatment at a hospital in India. He was counselled on the benefits of receiving the package offered by the Lagos State government and was also advised to put forward his decision as soon as possible so that the necessary arrangements can be made to transfer his son and a family member of his choice to Dubai for the treatment”, he said.
He added that the State government, in an effort to ensure the best care possible for Omonigho, also offered to support Abraham if he would rather go to India, in the hope that he would be getting the best care possible from the unnamed hospital in India, being sponsored by the NGO.
The Commissioner noted that Abraham however, for reasons best known to him, chose to take his son out of the hands of the plastic surgery specialists in LASUTH on Friday, against medical advice.
Said he, “the surgical team explained to Mr. Abraham that it was pertinent that the healthy granulation tissue growing on his son’s skull through the careful, thorough and expert care of the Plastic Surgery team must not be interrupted as this may cause infections to set in, and slow the healing process, as well as, delay any definitive reconstructive surgery. But Mr. Abraham unfortunately, took the ill-advised step to leave the facility after being thoroughly counselled by the specialist.”
However in a statement posted on the web page of Stella Dimoko Korkus, Little Omonigho Abraham was flown to India Friday night.
According to Dimoko Korkus, “Thank God Four Year old Omonigho Abraham and his mother departed Nigeria yesterday for India where he will undergo treatment to fix the damage done by the two dogs that attacked him and almost finished 50 percent flesh on his skull.
According to the statement, “Omonigho and his mother will spend the Christmas and New Year in India and will return after treatment is fully administered. They will be picked up from the airport and the bill for treatment, feeding and accommodation has been taken care of……May God see them through”, wrote Dimoko Korkus.
Omonigho’s father, Abraham Odia in a letter of appreciation sent by mail to Dimoko Korkus wrote: ‘’I want to appreciate the Almighty God for the privilege given to me to share this wonderful testimony. I am amazed and words cannot express my gratitude for the love and kindness shown to me during the unfortunate incident that happened to my son Omonigho.
“First and foremost, my gratitude goes to the following persons, the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola, the Executive Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, The Deputy Governor of Lagos, Hon. Victoria Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, The coordinator of GIPLC, Mr. Nuhu Kwajafa, Dr. Dolopo Fasawe, Mr. Sola Kuti.
“Also, the management and staff LASUTH and host of others that if I mention their names, the space will not be enough.
“I thank everyone both home and abroad who sent money to me. What more can I say of Stella Dimoko Korkus this wonderful angel that God has given to mankind? God will continue to uphold you and give you more strength and meet you at the point of your needs.
“Yesterday, my boy was flown to India by Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan to undergo surgery/treatment on his head.
“Sir, God will protect you and your family and He will do for you what you cannot do for yourself. God bless you All. I am grateful’’.