— Baby’s mother lauds Sckyé hospital management

By Dayo Johnson Akure

A baby born prematurely at 26 weeks and three days with a birth weight of 800 grams has been discharged after 70 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Sckyé Hospitals Ltd, Akure, Ondo State.

The baby, Oluwatosin, was discharged on May 31, 2026, weighing 1,480 grams. The hospital described the recovery as a significant milestone in neonatal care at the private facility.

Oluwatosin was delivered on March 22, 2026, and classified as an Extremely Low Birth Weight infant, a category for babies born weighing less than 1,000 grams.

A full-term pregnancy lasts at least 37 weeks, while healthy newborns typically weigh between 2,500 grams and 4,000 grams.

On delivery, the infant was admitted to the hospital’s NICU, where he received specialist care.

The unit is equipped with incubators, oxygen concentrators, phototherapy units, uninterrupted power supply, and dedicated neonatal nursing services.

After 70 days of intensive treatment and monitoring, doctors certified the baby medically fit for discharge.

He remains under specialist supervision for follow-up care.

At the discharge ceremony, the baby’s mother, Mrs Oluwatosin, thanked the management and staff of Sckyé Hospitals for what she called exceptional care.

She said she had maintained hope but initially doubted the infant would survive due to the extremely low birth weight and premature delivery.

The mother added that the family struggled with the financial cost of the prolonged admission.

According to her, they could only pay for the first 14 days of treatment, after which the hospital management absorbed the remaining bills.

Lead clinician and Consultant Paediatrician, Dr Omolayo Olubosede, commended Medical Director Dr Thomas-Wilson Ikubese and his wife, Mrs Abiola Ikubese, for covering the cost and prioritizing the baby’s survival.

She also praised the doctors and nurses for their teamwork.

Olubosede said this was the first Extremely Low Birth Weight baby successfully managed by the hospital since recent upgrades to its neonatal facilities.

According to the World Health Organisation, survival rates for extremely premature babies vary widely.

More than 90 per cent of such infants born in low-income countries die within the first few days of life, compared to fewer than 10 per cent in high-income settings.

The WHO continues to push for improved maternal and newborn healthcare to reduce preterm births and improve survival outcomes globally.