Children are a source of joy to parents, but for Mr and Mrs Austin Ohenhen, the birth of their quadruplets came with mixed feelings.
While they are happy with their arrival, they are also sad for not being able to take care of them as they would have loved to due to lack of financial power.
Mrs Rita Ohenhen who spoke to Daily Trust at the General Medical Hospital and Maternity Centre, Nomayo, Upper Sakpoba in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo State, where she was delivered of the quadruplets, said her worry was how to pay the hospital bills and take good care of the babies.
The 30-year-old mother who already had one child, said she would be battling how to take care of five children amid hunger and other uncertainties.
She said, “I delivered four children on January 2, 2021. I didn’t envisage I will have four.
“I didn’t register with this hospital or attended antenatal, but because of the sudden labour I was rushed here and was surprised to give birth to quadruplets.”
Mrs Ohenhen who is a full time house wife said they had no money before coming to the hospital and that the hospital accepted her even without depositing money, adding that they had nowhere to run to for help.
She further said, “God has been very helpful through this hospital and some people who have been helping me in their own little ways, but I don’t know where to go from here.
“Since I was delivered of the babies, the hospital has been helping me because I don’t even have any money.
“The doctor has not given us the bill but a nurse who I asked told me that the bill is N350,000.
“I don’t know how I will pay the bill and I will still need money to take care of them after we have been discharged.
“I want people to help me because it will be difficult for us to take care of them financially.
“So I am appealing to well-meaning individuals and government to come to my aid so that I can take care of them.”
On his part, the father of the quadruplets, Austin Ohenhen, called on people to support them in taking care of the children.
Mr Ohenhen said, “I am a mechanic doing ‘job man work’ with a friend. I am still confused about how I am going to take care of the children.
“We have been married for five years, I had one child before this four, bringing the total to five.
“I can’t take care of these children alone, I need support and assistance from the people, organisations and government.
“This load is too much for me that is why I am begging government and everybody to come to my aid.”
The 49-year-old mechanic said the money he had was not enough to even pay the hospital bill not to talk of taking care of the children.
Meanwhile, Dr Tosan Banitie, medical director of the hospital, said the babies were delivered on January 2, 2021, but that the parents did not register with hospital.
Dr Banitie said, “Apparently, she didn’t attend antenatal care and when the labour started they had to rush her to the closest hospital and she was already having the baby inside a Keke NAPEP.
“On arrival, we examined her and because she was not a patient of the hospital, we decided to help her take delivery, but after the first baby, we were surprised to see a second baby coming out, and while we were waiting for the placenta, the third and fourth babies arrived. She was able to deliver the babies without any tear or complication.
“The babies’ weights were 1.8kg, 2.2kg, 2.3kg and 2.5kg. We then took the weakest of them (1.8kg) to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital for examination and it was certified and has been brought back.”
Dr Banitie further said, “The hospital bill is N350,000, including delivery charges and drugs.
“The babies have been on antibiotics,” adding that the woman did not have baby clothes before the delivery and that it was the hospital that provided clothes and other things for them.
The doctor, therefore, said, “We are appealing to well-meaning individuals, government and organisations to support them in taking care of the babies because the mother and babies need assistance to do well.
“It would not have been a good thing for Nigeria and government that the babies died after delivery due to lack of funds.”
