Muslims Donate to Save 1 Year Old Bintu

By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri

THE MUSLIM congregation of Dare Salam Mosque situated within the Airport Residential area has donated an estimated GH¢8,000 to Bintu Fatima Ibrahim, a one year ten month old baby, who has a complex hole-in-heart condition.
The donation was to enable Fatima undergo a second operation in order to correct her condition called ‘Tetralogy of Fallot.’
Sheikh Armiya’u, substantive Imam of the Mosque, said the donation was in response to a publication in DAILY GUIDE captioned: “1 Year Old Bintu Needs Help.”
It may be recalled in that publication that Dr. M. Tamatey of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital’s Cardiothoracic Centre, signed a statement to appeal for funds for Bintu Fatima Ibrahim.
The statement said Bintu had had her first operation and requires a second and final open-heart operation costing GH¢24,000 to correct all the defects.
She was required to pay GH¢12,000 while the Ghana Heart foundation opted to pay 50 percent of the total cost.
Sheikh Armiya’u said the congregation of Dare Salam therefore launched an appeal and dedicated a whole sermon to the plight of Fatima Ibrahim which enabled them raise the money.
He stated that they were happy to associate themselves with a value that is upheld in the month of Ramadan “and that is the value of giving to the poor and needy and being compassionate to the weak.”
He further hoped the token donation will bring relief to the little child.

Doctor Lawrence Sereboe, Cardiothoracic surgeon, at the National Cardiothoracic Center who received the donation thanked the team on behalf of Fatima’s family.
“This will help her have a normal, quality life expectancy so when groups, individuals and benevolent organisations come to the aid of these children then we know that it is an investment in their lives,” he said.
He said the donation will aid in settling the required GH¢12,000 after the Ghana Heart Foundation paid 50 percent of the total cost.
Dr. Sereboe said the amount will cater for the cost of surgery, anesthesia, intensive care and accommodation for Fatima.