The 14-month old explosion victim of Islamist group, Boko Haram, Baby Aishat Ibrahim, has successfully gone through reconstructive surgery. 

According to The Nation, Nigeria-born U.S-based surgeon, Professor Ferdinand Ofodile led the team that conducted the surgery in a four-hour successful operation. Also in the team are Dr. Chubado Tahir from the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and Dr. Cefas Nbaya of the National Hospital, Abuja.

On Sunday, December 20, Osinbajo paid an unscheduled visit to check on the recovery status of the babyin the company of his wife, Dolapo Osinbajo.


The Osinbajos visit to Baby Aishat yesterday

Speaking with journalists during the visit of the Osinbajos, Ofodile said: ”We reconstructed her eyelids by adding flesh from the thigh, and we also did a skin graft to the left arm, freeing it, from its attachment at the armpit caused by the explosion.

”She sustained extensive burns to the eye, the face and the chest. She also sustained injuries in the left arm and armpit “resulting in the arm being fixed to the body and eyelids destroyed.”

Ofodile, a clinical professor of surgery at Columbia University, New York, stated it would take about six months for Aishat’s full recovery, but explained that if the eyelids were not reconstructed it could cause the outright loss of the eyes.

He said: “When I saw her on Friday, the upper lid was turned inside out. If this was not fixed, over time the eye itself would be lost due to unprotected exposure. So we saved the eyelids and globe by adding skin to the eye lids-upper and lower.”

Ofodile said the team “released the armpit so Aishat can lift up her left arm and recover the full use of her shoulder”. He also informed the journalists that further surgical operations would be done in the future to improve the baby’s conditions.

Aishat’s parents, Mr and Mrs Ibrahim Goni Lawani,  thanked  Osinbajo who paid for the cost of the operation. He said: ”God touched the Vice President to help our child. We thank President Buhari and the VP, may God bless them and make them remained focussed on why God brought them to power.”

May Almighty heal her and may we never be a victim of such