Pregnant’ boy begs Nigerians for help

OdinakachiThe boy in this photograph is just 14. But even at that age, he carries the burden of an overdue pregnant woman. Odinakachi Emelogu is a Primary Three pupil of Amaise Primary School, Obinwa, Abia State. But while his mates are in school, little Odinakachi is faced with the challenge of shedding off the excess fluid in his stomach, which has caused a lot of discomfort to him and his family already.

His carriage shows that he is tired of the heavy load, which his skinny frame is forced to carry along. Although he speaks audibly, he coughs frequently as if choking. His classmates jeer. They also call him different nicknames, among which are ‘swollen stomach,’ ‘big stomach’ and ‘pot belly’. Out of frustration due to his disfigured look and constant assault by schoolmates, he was forced to stop schooling in 2007 to enable him and his parents seek a solution.

My classmates used to laugh at me,” he told the reporter. “They would push me, touch my stomach and call me big stomach. I feel very heavy and weak.”
The problem actually started in 2005. Then, Odinakachi began to notice that his stomach was getting bigger by the day until it became obvious that it was not the normal consumption of too much food as usually done by children of his age that was responsible for the problem.

He was alarmed as well as his parents and friends. Initially, they thought it would get back to normal but to their utmost disbelief, the stomach kept increasing, drawing public attention.
The indigent parents have tried all they could to solve the problem which stares at them like a bad dream. His mother’s name is Happiness, but ironically, she’s one of the saddest women on earth. She’s a poor farmer in her village while her husband, Odinakachi’s father, is a labourer.
Mrs. Happiness, who accompanied Odinakachi to the corporate office of The Sun Publishing Ltd, claimed they have been to several hospitals without any positive result.
According to her, at the Living Word Hospital, Aba, one of the hospitals they visited, tests were conducted and the findings were negative. From there, she said, she visited several other hospitals and medical homes but there has been no solution.
“My husband has tried his best and I have done my part. We need help to treat him. As people do it for us, God will reward them,” the woman said.

Right now, the sickness has worsened as it has also affected Odinakachi’s scrotum. It has swollen to an extent that, walking has become a big problem for the little boy.
Indeed, Odinakachi, whose dream is to become a pastor, needs an urgent deliverance to get well.
Odinakachi Emelogu can be reached on his mother’s mobile line, 08030803178. Donations can also be sent to father’s savings account at UBA. The account name is Emelogu Ngozi, and the number O3390520078441.

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