Surgery restores school girl’s bitten off tongue, father appeals for scholarship from philanthropists
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Adaeze Chinweoke, a student of Federal Government Girls’ College (FGGC), Umuahia, has had the bitten off part of her tongue re-attached through medical surgery after it was severed in a fight over food.
Senior student Amarachi Chibueze reportedly bit off the part during a fight with 13-year-old Adaeze over food in the college last October.
Adaeze’s father Ofekwe Chinweoke, who with his wife accompanied her back to the college, described the incident as horrifying.
He said the incident took a huge health and psychological toll on Adaeze, a Senior Secondary School 1 (SSS 1) student, apart from financial costs to the family, which is based in Aba.
“In view of the above, I appeal to individuals, groups, and institutions to assist us by offering her a scholarship as a way of encouraging her to pursue her dream,” he pleaded.
He attributed the success of the surgery to the “grace of God and the professional ingenuity of Dr. Innocent Iwegbu, a chief consultant oral and maxillofacial surgeon with the Federal Medical Centre [FMC], Umuahia and his team.”
Chinweoke also applauded the college principal, Ngozi Kalu-Idika, and two parents in the school for their timely intervention, “without which, who knows what would have become [Adaeze’s] fate today.”
Iwegbu confirmed to Leadership that the child’s condition is back to normal and stable and is capable of resuming studies and other activities in full.
He implored school authorities to inculcate in students, the virtues of understanding, discipline, tolerance, peace, and love in order to avoid unhealthy rivalry and similar incidents in the future.
Onyinyechi Nwosu, a child rights activist and Abia Child Protection Network Coordinator, issued a statement commending Adaeze for her courage to return to school.
He also commended Iwegbu and his team for the feat and added his voice to the appeal for scholarship for Adaeze from any quarter, including FGGC Umuahia Old Students’ Association.
Read also:
