UGANDA: THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC A 23 YEARS WOMAN WEANING TWO BABIES TWINKLY IN GULU SUPPORT NEEDED

By Christopher Nyeko 

Before the advent of western culture, African society would be nursing orphan baby by adopting the child to Aunty in case of calamity. However, the COVID-19 pandemic is rooting degenerated Acholi cultural norms back to originality  

GULU-UGANDA: Gloria Acaa passed on May 28 from St Mary Hospital Lacor after giving birth at home pawel village Pece Division in Gulu City for fear of contacting COVID-19. She was admitted first at FLAMA-Uganda medical Centre, but due to her bad condition she was referred to St Mary Hospital Lacor for a better treatment, where she died later.

Anena Juliet a 23 years old is Brest feeding a four day old baby from her sister Acaa who passed on. In African traditional way when peoples lost a lactating mother any lady may take over by taking care of baby

Okello William one of the renounce elder in Puranga used to give local medicine for such breast feeding mother to take care of baby after the mother passed on

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Today Wed. June 3^rd 2020 Anena was reportedly says on Radio Mega FM, she is appealing to well-wishers to support her with any assistance because she has taken the role of Brest feeding the kid of her death sister, Anena cried.

Anena complained that she took over Brest feeding the baby of her the late sister according to African system, but the husband of the sister wanted to remove the baby from her and take him to Watoto baby home, Anena decries.

“On 29th of May 2020 immaculately accepted and started Brest feeding a four days Old baby after the mother gave birth from home in Pece Pawel village, unfortunately my sister felt ill and passed away. On the 29th May 2020 a baby was taken to FLAMA-Uganda medical center in Gulu Municipality for medical care after his mother Acaa Gloria 27 year’s old mother of two children pronounced death from St Mary Hospital after referral from Flama Uganda for severe pain and up-normality after giving birth from home.” Anena urged.

The founder director of FLAMA-Uganda Dr Flavia Teddy Okello confirmed to Oyeng Yeng News that Anena Juliet a Lactating mother of seven months old baby who is the younger sister to the deceased came and kindly pleading to Brest feed the son of her deceased sister.

“Our immediate response is on the child. Negligently the mother has died but what about the child’s future? Let think big. Who knows what the future may bring, upbringing of the children was every one role and responsibility in accordance to Acholi tradition, cultural norms and practices the mothers who normally dedicates her Brest and teats to Brest feeds and back-nest the child whose mother passed away was gathered foods and considered min kaka meaning mother of the clan so let support Anena with all our hand, ability and heart in grooming the child”. Quoted Teddy

Teddy Okello confirmed that the medical team counseled Anena she was tested for human immune virus, diabetes, cancer and many diseases that can spread from mother to child through Brest feeding, her result was negative she is fit to take over the child through Brest feeding.

Teddy Okello says importance of breast feeding is much better compare to bottled feeding because the child is taught cultural norms and tradition.

The child should be grooms in mother tongue and the relationships between the mother and the child are normally boosted compare to when they are up-brought from orphanage center.

Teddy also appeals to others well-wishers to step in and support the family beside Anena who came and gave her time and sacrificed to Brest feed the child

In Acholi culture these kind of the women are always supported jointly by every ones in the community because Brest feeding two babies of different month on the same Brest needs a lot of nutritious foods that can boost the milk production.

Anena who came voluntarily explained to Oyeng Yeng that she is ready to Brest feed the child of her deceased sister but also she call on to everybody around the world to support her.  because of covid-19 my husband cannot afford to cater for my wellbeing of lactating our amazing twins He is only a mere carpenter who normally earn ten thousands shillings in a day which cannot afford to buy foods items that could supplement me with required nutrients for lactating two children at once said Anena.

Martin Mwaka the uncle of the deceased confirmed to Oyeng Yeng News that their in-law who were proposing to let the child be taken to Watoto orphanage home later was convinced with the taupe experience shared to them by the team of elderly peoples from both side of the deceased and the husband family and they all agreed to let the child be teasing the Brest milk.

William Ojok the husband to the deceased while contacted by Oyeng Yeng news reporter on the 3 June 2020 confirmed that he mind is still confused and have no ward to say.

Thousands of the peoples across Acholi Sub Region and, Lango Sub Region and many people from diaspora commented on the discussion broadcasted on Acholi Broadcasting Services FM (ABS) on the decision to be taken in order to up bring the child who is left in world with no mother. 100 percent of the audiences advised the husband to consider breast feeding.