Niger Delta
Girl With Hole In Heart Needs N4m For Surgery
An 11 year old girl, Miss Stephanie Akeni, diagnosed with a hole in her heart by doctors needs N4.0 million for surgery in order to save her life, according to her father, Chief Walter Akeni who spoke to journalists in Yenagoa.
Chief Akeni said that the JSS1 student of New Total Child Academy, Yenagoa has been suffering from fainting spells recently and that doctors even marveled that she is still alive as her condition seems to be congenital.
Quoting the doctors, Cheif Akeni said the girl ought to have had the surgery since she was an infant, but her condition only became known after she fainted at school in November last year and she was rushed to the school clinic for first aid. After administering first aid on the girl, the doctor suspected a more serious condition and referred her to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Yenagoa with “complaints of easy fatigability and difficulty in breathing”, where the cardiologist carried out some tests on her.
In the referral letter to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) signed by Dr. Onotume Okemena, the FMC, Yenagoa said Stephanie was too small for her age and “mildly cyanosed with no digital clubbing.”
At UPTH, Stephanie was referred to a private clinic, Divine Heart Foundation for further tests using echo sounding equipment to determine if she actually has a hole in her heart.
The pediatric cardiology echo report from Divine Heart Foundation signed by Dr. Barbara Otaigbe said among other things that Stephanie has a hugely dilated left atrium, severe right ventricular hypertrophy, non restrictive subarctic VSD and 70 percent overriding aorta and aorta-mistral discontinuity.
Dr. Otaigbe, a consultant pediatrics/pediatric cardiologist diagnosed “double outlet right ventricle with pulmonary stenosis and said that Stephanie “requires urgent surgery.
Little Stephanie has since stopped going to school as her medical condition has worsened and this has brought a lot of pressure upon the family which has to daily manage her condition to avoid any further complications.
Doctors have referred them to India where Stephanie could have surgery for as low as N4.0 million, but Chief Akeni said it is difficult to raise the money even as Stephanie’s condition has continued to deteriorate.
Chief Akeni, a lawyer by profession, said they have resorted to prayers since their ordeal began and appealed to the Bayelsa State Government, Kanu Heart Foundation, A Aruera Reachout Foundation, non-governmental organisations, philanthropists and public spirited individuals to come to their aid.
The Rivers State Commissioner for Urban Development and Physical Planning, Rt Hon Evans Bipi, has eulogised Gen Gabriel Asabuja over his recent birthday celebration in Port Harcourt.
Bipi said Asabuja is worth celebrating following his numerous contributions and support to the administration of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
He described Asabuja as a strong pillar of governance in Rivers State, adding that the Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning is happy working with him.
He noted that Asabuja’s position as a team leader of the Ministry’s taskforce has been amazing, saying the Ministry is proud associating with him.
The former lawmaker hinted that since Asabuja assumed office as leader of the taskforce, the Ministry has witnessed tremendous improvement.
Bipi said the Ministry will always stand by him to ensure that the dreams of the Governor Fubara-led government are achieved.
On his part, the celebrant, Gen Gabriel Asabuja expressed gratitude to God and the Commissioner for the honour done him.
Gen Asabuja also commended Governor Fubara for his tremendous and good leadership in the State, saying his group will continue to give the Governor maximum support in order to achieve more for Rivers people.
Gen Asabuja described Rt Hon Evans Bipi as one of the best brains working with the Governor, saying under Bipi, the Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning has shown capacity to leverage on the Governor’s mantra of Rivers First.
He said both the personnel of the Ministry, the Directors and adhoc staff are happy with his style of leadership.
The Joint Provincial Council, East of the Niger, Anglican Communion, held its 2025 Annual General Meeting at St. Michael’s Church, Rumuomasi Deanery, Diocese of Evo from Saturday 15th — Sunday 16th February, 2025.
The meeting which had the theme, “Kept By His Mercies”, with text from Lamentations 3:22-23, had the Archbishops, Bishops, their wives, Chancellors, Financial Secretaries and Synod Clerical Secretaries of the 58 Dioceses as delegates.
At the opening ceremony on Saturday, the Dean of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) and Chairman of the Council, Most Rev Blessing Enyindah, charged delegates to stay focused and committed to the matters for discussion and implement decisions reached for the growth of the Church in the region and the advancement of the business of God’s Kingdom.
Most Rev Enyindah, who is also the Archbishop of the Niger Delta Province and Bishop of the Diocese of Ikwerre, lauded the Diocese of Evo for the giant strides recorded in just 15 years of existence while tasking the leadership not to rest on its oars but to strive further to complete the work of the Kingdom in their hands.
Addressing the council in his welcome address, the Bishop of the Diocese of Evo and host of the Joint Council, The Rt Rev Innocent Ordu, welcomed the delegates, and reminded them that the theme is apt and fit as it reminds the Church of God’s inexplicable and instructible mercy towards mankind, which supersedes His righteous judgements.
Bishop Ordu further lamented the many challenges bedeviling the country, such as skyrocketing cost of living, ravaging sicknesses and ailments, proliferation of harmful drugs, natural disasters, high level corruption in public offices, inept political leadership, amongst others, which he said could not consume mankind because of God’s mercies.
In their separate speeches, delegates saluted the Diocese of Evo for willingly accepting to host the council and the comfort they enjoyed during their stay.
Earlier, the council appointed the Synod’s Clerical Secretary of the Diocese of Evo, Rev (Canon) (Dr) Ebenezer Owhor as the Assistant Secretary of the Joint Council.
Also, before the commencement of plenary, the women of St. Michael’s Church, Rumuomasi Deanery thrilled delegates to good traditional tunes and dance steps while His Royal Highness Eze( Sir) Raymond Chinda led the chiefs and elders of Rumuomasi community in Oropotoma Kingdom, to appreciate the council for choosing the community to host the meeting.
They solicited for prayers of peace, unity and development from the council.
The meeting ended on Sunday evening while the Archbishops and Bishops worshipped in various churches in the Diocese of Evo.