Mother Alleges Abuse of Disabled Child by Lagos Officials, Child in Critical Condition

Omolabake Fasogbon

Mrs. Ayoola Janet, mother of a child livingz with cerebral palsy, Ayoola Toluwalase, 12, has pleaded with Lagos State Government to come to  the aid of her dying child in custody of the state home for Special Children in Ketu Special Children Centre (KSCC).

Toluwalase  was reportedly  admitted in Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) on January 6 over chronic  life threatening bed sores that developed all over his body,  including his  private organ, allegedly due to neglect and negligence of his caregivers at KSCC.

Toluwalase was born with cerebral palsy, a condition described as a group of disorders that affect a child’s ability to move and maintain balance and posture.

Janet said he enrolled him in KSCC when he was five  to enable him socialise with peers, while he normally  returned home by weekends and public holidays to spend time with parents.

She recalled that she could not  visit the Centre between October and December 2023 as she had to undertake a caesarian section delivery which was  communicated to the matron at the centre, identified as Mrs. Kemi Agoro.

She alleged that during this period, her son was abandoned and confined to the bed without care and routine hygiene procedures, resulting in giant bed sores all over his body that is now infected.

“From all indications, the boy was left unattended to and the sores grew bigger and deeper. This could have been minimal if they did not confine him to a spot or leave him untreated.  Apparently, their expectations was that he would passed on or they may have thought I have abandoned him,” she flared.

Janet alleged that all the while the sores expanded and aggravated,  he was not taken to the hospital while she was also not informed of the child’s condition.

A test result issued at LASUTH confirmed multiple pressure ulcers and severe anaemia.

According to medics, bed sores also known as pressure ulcers, occur when prolonged pressure on a body part cuts off blood supply to the skin for more than two to three hours, injuring the skin and underlying tissue.

This can lead to serious infection and even death, and best prevented by regularly repositioning patients.

“His condition had since aggravated and developed infections since he was not taken to the hospital when due,” Janet lamented.

She said she was only informed when son’s situation got out of hand and was told he had a slight sore.

According to the mother, “By the time I went to pick him the next day, he had been dressed up and there was no clue of anything serious not until I got home and saw rotten sores all over  his body and worst at his private organ. They looked so scary and hurting to the innocent boy who has been restless and writhing in pain ever since.

“I immediately put a call  through to Mrs. Agoro  and asked how she managed to watch the child’s condition deteriorated  without taking him to the hospital or notified me. I threatened to raise the alarm on her negligence  but pleaded with me not to and promised to do everything within her and state’s capacity to treat and return him back to health.”

THISDAY sighted innocent Toluwalase looking  pale and pained with  blood soaked  giant bed sores spread over his body. The deep sores have obviously advanced to the muscle and bone.

Janet  expressed worries on the manner his son was discharged on April 3 despite in critical condition, adding that efforts to get him back to the hospital had proven abortive  when Agoro and other states officials privy to the matter were not responding.

“Governor Sanwo-olu should please come to my aid, I don’t have any money left to take him to private hospital and I don’t want him to die, he has potentials. His breathing has been irregular since he was discharged. His situation is getting worse,” she appealed.

When contacted for reaction, Agoro failed to respond to text messages sent to her, and when reached her via phone call, there was network hitches which disrupted communication. By the time THISDAY tried to reach her again, she had already switched off her phone.