As policemen are striving to offer the generality of Nigerians protection, their wives are also identifying with children, particularly the abandoned and the sick, writes TEMITOPE SOBOWALE
This year’s Children’s Day in Nigeria was devoid of its usual colourful celebration. The people, including the children, refused to celebrate because of the over 200 girls abducted in April by Boko Haram in their school at Chibok, Borno State.
But Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA), Macarthy Street Barrack branch, Onikan, Lagos State, reasoned it was a time, not only to show support for the abducted schoolgirls, but time to empathise with the sick and abandoned babies at the Massey Street Children Hospital. Thus on May 29, while Nigerians were marking 15th anniversary of democracy in the country, the police officers’ wives headed for Massey.
The women were led by the President of POWA, Mrs Helen Agbonika, wife of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Adeniji Adele Police Station, Mr. Monday Agbonika. When they reached the hospital and were confronted with the sights of pale and sick babies, they almost broke down in tears. Many of them also fought hard to control their emotions when they saw another set of babies, in incubators, battling for life.
Their sad countenance, however, changed to anger, after they were taken to the section where abandoned babies are kept. The women, who are all mothers, said they could not just fathom how a woman, who had carried a pregnancy for nine months, could easily discard her baby at a dumpsite or anywhere else.
“I’m ashamed and disappointed with those that call themselves mothers and don’t show or know the true meaning of that word. “They throw their babies away just because of one problem or the other, not knowing what would become of such children later on in life,” the POWA president said. The women went there with loads of gifts for the kids.
They were apparently determined to put smile on the faces of the kids. The gifts ranged from diapers to baby food, among other items. The women visited different wards and prayed for the children in both Islamic and Christian ways.
One of the women said: “Our hearts bled when we saw those little children with drips on their hands. Some had it on their body. We visited a particular ward. It is called ‘Ward C.’ We saw two lovely babies who had been abandoned by their parents.”
Another said: “I wonder how some mothers feel when they abandon their children and run away, blaming it on poverty. I tell myself they are not worth to be called mothers.” One of the abandoned babies is a boy of about five-month-old, while the second is just a month-old-baby baby girl.
Agbonika said that POWA was visiting Massey Children Hospital for the second time.
According to her, no matter how many times they visit, they will never be able to overcome the pains and sadness at seeing the kids. She added: “I love to give to the needy and sick children. It breaks my heart when I see these children suffering, especially those in pains. You can just see their suffering in the hospital.” The women described mothers who abandon their kids as, “heartless women who are not fit to be called mothers”.
Parents of some sick kids, who were at the hospital on that fateful day, appreciated the women for their love and kindness. Agbonika charged Nigerians to help the sick children and the needy, “because in them comes a better tomorrow”.
This year’s Children’s Day in Nigeria was devoid of its usual colourful celebration. The people, including the children, refused to celebrate because of the over 200 girls abducted in April by Boko Haram in their school at Chibok, Borno State.
But Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA), Macarthy Street Barrack branch, Onikan, Lagos State, reasoned it was a time, not only to show support for the abducted schoolgirls, but time to empathise with the sick and abandoned babies at the Massey Street Children Hospital. Thus on May 29, while Nigerians were marking 15th anniversary of democracy in the country, the police officers’ wives headed for Massey.
The women were led by the President of POWA, Mrs Helen Agbonika, wife of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Adeniji Adele Police Station, Mr. Monday Agbonika. When they reached the hospital and were confronted with the sights of pale and sick babies, they almost broke down in tears. Many of them also fought hard to control their emotions when they saw another set of babies, in incubators, battling for life.
Their sad countenance, however, changed to anger, after they were taken to the section where abandoned babies are kept. The women, who are all mothers, said they could not just fathom how a woman, who had carried a pregnancy for nine months, could easily discard her baby at a dumpsite or anywhere else.
“I’m ashamed and disappointed with those that call themselves mothers and don’t show or know the true meaning of that word. “They throw their babies away just because of one problem or the other, not knowing what would become of such children later on in life,” the POWA president said. The women went there with loads of gifts for the kids.
They were apparently determined to put smile on the faces of the kids. The gifts ranged from diapers to baby food, among other items. The women visited different wards and prayed for the children in both Islamic and Christian ways.
One of the women said: “Our hearts bled when we saw those little children with drips on their hands. Some had it on their body. We visited a particular ward. It is called ‘Ward C.’ We saw two lovely babies who had been abandoned by their parents.”
Another said: “I wonder how some mothers feel when they abandon their children and run away, blaming it on poverty. I tell myself they are not worth to be called mothers.” One of the abandoned babies is a boy of about five-month-old, while the second is just a month-old-baby baby girl.
Agbonika said that POWA was visiting Massey Children Hospital for the second time.
According to her, no matter how many times they visit, they will never be able to overcome the pains and sadness at seeing the kids. She added: “I love to give to the needy and sick children. It breaks my heart when I see these children suffering, especially those in pains. You can just see their suffering in the hospital.” The women described mothers who abandon their kids as, “heartless women who are not fit to be called mothers”.
Parents of some sick kids, who were at the hospital on that fateful day, appreciated the women for their love and kindness. Agbonika charged Nigerians to help the sick children and the needy, “because in them comes a better tomorrow”.
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