One of Media General’s Ashanti Region correspondents, Ibrahim Abubakar, has been honoured by the Rickmes Foundation on his reports on children living with hydrocephalus.
Ibrahim Abubakar’s passion for writing on the health condition has attracted support for victims, one of such stories drawing the attention of the Foundation to fully pay the surgical expenses of a nine-month-old baby, who had his condition corrected.
Little Elisha’s parents needed GH¢10,000 as cost of surgery to correct the condition.
Though a medical condition, parents of Elisha were accused of using their child for rituals.
After the story, some individuals, who were touched by the plight of Elisha and his parents, supported with the cost of the surgery through Rickmes Foundation.
Elisha has undergone a successful surgery at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.
The citation presented to Ibrahim Abubakar praised him for his contribution in demystifying hydrocephalus and debunking its links to superstitions.
It stated: “You have contributed in diverse ways to our progress thus far.”
Rickmes Foundaion is a non-governmental organisation that supports persons with hydrocephalus.
Executive Director Patrick Kissi Essuman stated: “Ibrahim Abubakar has been an anchor in fighting against misconceptions of Ghanaians about the condition [hydrocephalus].”
In his acceptance remark, the broadcast journalist thanked the Foundation for the recognition.
“I will thank God and my team in Kumasi. For us as journalist it is our responsibility to give voice to the voiceless…I feel honoured and will continue to do more for society,” he said.
Hydrocephalus is the build-up of too much cerebrospinal fluid in the brain.
Normally, this fluid cushions the brain but when it is too much, it puts harmful pressure on the brain.
The condition can permanently damage the brain, causing problems with physical and mental development if untreated.
With treatment, many people lead normal lives with few limitations.
Treatment usually involves surgery to insert a shunt which moves the cerebrospinal fluid to another area of the body where it can be absorbed.
Source: 3news.com|Ghana