A malnourished girl who was on the jaws of death has cause to celebrate her birthday after she was rescued by the National Women Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Betta Edu years ago.
Christian Etim, who celebrated her birthday Sunday, July 23 was rescued from the jaw of death at Ikot Ekpo axis of Calabar in Cross River State in 2017.
The then one-year, six-months-old child was rescued alongside her teenage mother in 2017 by Dr. Edu, the ex-Director-General of Cross River State Primary Health-care Development Agency.
The 16-year-old mother of the child, Esther Etim Effiom, was sent to live with a distant relative at Eket as a house maid.
But, when she was impregnated by one Victor, the family sent her away.
Her grandparents, whom she lived with initially, refused to take her in, saying they did not send her to Eket to get pregnant.
In a post on her Facebook on Sunday, July 23, 2023, Dr. Edu described Christiana as a child destined for greatness.
“Happy birthday, My Baby Christy!! It Still feels like yesterday. I clearly remember that day when we went out there for public health field work at a remote community. I sighted something I thought was a dead small dog lying on a dirty veranda.
‘‘I told the state nutrition officer (SNO) who was with me on a community sweep seeking for malnourished children, that we will not go into that compound because I don’t want any rabies infected dog to bite me since one was dead already another could be by the side,” the post read.
‘‘God had you in mind Christy it was your day for rescue! “My SNO said no madam, I think it’s a dying severely malnourished child” we were 2 compounds away! The minute I heard dying child, my blood ran cold and I walked over to you. At first I wondered how a woman will let her child die in her very face, until I met the mother who was only a teenager and was equally struggling to stay alive, “a child who was molested and had another child she couldn’t cater for” I knew immediately that this was the real reason God brought me there, to save Christy and her teenage mother Esther. The rest is history. Today, they have a good accommodation the mother and child are back in school and are very healthy,’’ Dr Betta Edu wrote.
This is the story of A young girl, who fought back at death, Christy who overpowered severe malnutrition courtesy of the intervention of Dr Betta Edu who God used in rescuing her 7 years back.
The girl with bones sticking out of her ribs generated sympathy from Dr Betta Edu who was then the DG Primary Health care Development Agency. The two have been through several hospital admissions in the build back process but we are happy for progress made so far.
Now, my Christy is so strong and healthy. The malnourished girl, who survived severe pains as a child, is gradually gaining her footing in society. She is now grown and has turned into a beautiful young girl. But asides the beauty, she’s also got brains and very smart. She hardly smiles…May be life didn’t smile at her at birth.
Presently, she is in Primary school. According to the teenage mother, who is also enrolled in a secondary school, she dreams of little Christy and her becoming a medical doctor so she can help other kids who are currently going through what she went through. HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTY!!!
