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Pupil at St Nicholas Preparatory loses thumb

By GNA
Health Pupil at St Nicholas Preparatory loses thumb
MAY 6, 2015 LISTEN


Accra, May 6, GNA - Innocent Sendzu, 8, a pupil at St Nicholas Preparatory School at Tema Manhean, who reported to school with a fractured arm, has had his thumb and index finger on his right arm removed.

Doctors at Tema General Hospital had to carry out the operation due to gangrene while efforts are being made to preserve the arm. He has subsequently been transferred to Korle Bu Teaching hospital in an attempt to avoid further amputation.

The school authorities said the problem was compounded because he was sent for herbal medication by his father on the advice of a local pastor.

The father of Innocent informed the school that he was recovering, which was apparently not the case.

Although his mother attends a health outreach programme hosted by the SOS College in Tema, she did not send her son for consultation and treatment.

Innocent's mother is eight months pregnant and has never visited a hospital before, despite giving birth to six children. She also suffers from a number of life threatening problems.

His father is also battling with mental health issues and only two of his children are in school including Innocent who was admitted on September 3, 2012 and is the first male child of his parents.

The school is setting up a fund to help get Innocent prosthetics and plastic surgery and rehabilitation would also be necessary as well as physiotherapy.

"Academically he is a very bright child, very passionate about academic work and ready to learn new things. He is a happy child who has the spirit of a team player; very determined and respectful.

"It is indeed very tragic that such a simple fracture that could easily have been taken care of should lead to the loss of his thumb and finger,' the school authorities said.

The school has received well wishes and messages of support including one from Mrs Vickie Dracos, who has taken the case to heart and has visited the young boy frequently and spent time offering him encouragement.

Teachers of the school particularly Patrick, Mabel, Innocent, Papa James and Moses also donated blood for the surgery while others have spent time keeping him company.

The school is therefore calling on philanthropists who already support the school and other stakeholders to make the fund raising mission a success.

The two principal donors of the school in Ghana are Atlas Copco and Vodafone as well as the Tsakos group, which started the school. TEABAG, Mankoadze and the Chaffinch Trust and other charities have also contributed towards the upkeep of the academic facility over the years.

St Nicholas School was officially opened in February 2012 in the sprawling port town of Tema, near Accra. It currently offers pre-school education to disadvantaged children living in the surrounding shanty town, who are taught English, reading, writing and other classroom skills.

The children are provided with a school uniform, school books and writing material and are given breakfast, a fruit snack and a healthy lunch.

They also receive treatment for any medical needs. Families pay only a nominal registration fee and all other costs are borne by the school.

GNA

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