No money to feed the quadruplets

The parents of the quadruplets delivered at the Sacred Heart Hospital, Lantoro, Abeokuta, Ogun State about a month ago are currently facing financial difficulties in meeting the children’s needs after they were discharged from the hospital.

NEXT had reported the delivery of the four babies, which occurred on July 18, 2009, when their mother, a Lagos-based seamstress, visited her mother-in-law in Abeokuta. The woman, Adijat Ayorinde, was sent their after her husband, a motor mechanic, lost his workshop to the city upgrade activities of the Lagos State government.

The quadruplets were successfully delivered through caesarian operations. They are now at the family home located at Ita Baale, Adigbe area of Abeokuta.

Now, Alao Ayorinde, the 30-year-old father of the children, has taken to the streets of the town to beg. He said in tears that the burden to raise the kids was too heavy for him and his wife.

A visit to the couple’s family home confirmed his claim that the family is facing a hard time.

Mr. Ayorinde, jobless as a result of the demolition of his workshop, said the only way he could meet the financial needs of the children was if he received support from the public.

“The family had been living from hand to mouth since the kids and mother were discharged from the hospital,” he said. “Even the few clothes donated to the babies after their birth are fading and could not be replaced.”

Mr. Ayorinde further added that it was not easy feeding the four children, since their mother could not get the required nutritional intake she needs to breast feed the babies.

“It is when the mother feeds well that she could also feed the innocent children well,” he said. “We are all just struggling to survive.”

The disturbed father said he had even thought of running away and abandoning the kids when the pressure was too much on him.

Waiting on God

The kids according to their birth records on delivery, weighed 2.0kg, 2.35kg, 2.0kg and 2.55kg. The three males and one female have also been named. They are Koyum, Koreeb, Kobirat and Kuwan.

The parents revealed that they were expecting just two kids - based on the result of the scan of the pregnancy. Tricked by science, as it were, the parents said they are now looking up to God for assistance.

“Perhaps God will send someone to help us to take care of these children,” Mr. Ayorinde said.