By Rotimi Agboluaje
The birth of a child is heralded with joy, pomp and circumstance. Family members, friends, associates and acquaintances rejoice with such a family to share in the bundle of joy.
Importantly, the joy knows no bounds when the family is blessed with a set of  twins or triplets. Such was the case of the Unaidets when the family was blessed with a set of triplets in 1999.
The three babies – Precious, Peace and Prudence – were born at the prestigious University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria.
However, what was supposed to be enduring joy has turned sour as one of the triplets, Prudence, died in 2018, and the other , Peace, Â was allegedly misdiagnosed.
One of the set of the triplets, Precious Unaidet, explained how the misfortune happened.
According to Precious, the misdiagnosis, and mismanagement led to severe deterioration in the health of her sisters, Prudence and Peace.
She said: ‘’My name is Precious/Heroine K. Unaidet, I am one of the set of triplets born on May 29, 1999, at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
‘’My father hails from Okat in Onna Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State and my mother hails from Avutu, Obowo LGA of Imo State. I was born and raised in Ibadan, Oyo State.
‘’Our names are Precious, Peace and Prudence. Our growing up was hitch-free until my triplet sister, Prudence, took ill on December 2, 2001, as a result of fever associated with high temperature. She was admitted to the Paediatric  Neurology unit of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Oyo State.
‘’This was the beginning of misdiagnosis, mismanagement and severe deterioration in the health of my sister,  Prudence and the beginning of economic woes, emotional and psychological trauma, stigma and unending nightmares for us.
‘’The hospital presented different conflicting diagnoses as follows: (1) Spinal Meningitis, (2) Viral Encephalitis, (3) Communicating Hydrocephalus, (4) Cerebral Palsy  and (5) Severe Brain Malformation. All these diagnoses and deterioration in her health took place under acclaimed excellence in medical practice of the hospital. It is unimaginable.
‘’Meanwhile, she was totally paralysed and bedridden for 17 years. This period was really traumatic for me and members of my family.
‘’Prudence’s prolonged stay on sick bed took the attention of virtually all the finances of the family. Lately, my dad often complained that Prudence’s sickness ruined everything he had and worked for, leaving him financially disorganised and handicapped.
‘’During the period of her sickness, my parents made frantic efforts to raise help for her treatment abroad as was recommended. Prudence did not get the help she desperately needed to stay alive. UCH denied interested person(s) the cooperation they needed to help her. We are yet to know the reason(s) for such hostile disposition and engagement toward helping an innocent victim who got damaged by the institution’s malpractice. My dad wrote to virtually all the relevant agencies of government, including meeting with the then minister of health in his office in Abuja who promised to take up Prudence’s treatment. But everything ended like a mystery of conspiracy, nothing was done.
‘’Also, when we were born, The Guardian Newspaper and The Pioneer Newspaper covered the story of our birth, which attracted the attention of my State Government for support. My dad told me that he was invited by the Akwa Ibom State Government through the office of the Commissioner for Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare.
‘’He said after meeting with the said Commissioner, no support whatsoever was given as it ended like a mystery of jokes. One may ask, ‘What was the reason for his invitation?’
‘’Prudence died in 2018. As a result, Peace, my immediate triplet sister developed severe depression that has distorted her mental stability. She is always calling Prudence’s name and asking why. She is disturbed and wishes to get quality healthcare. She wants to recover to be able to continue her education and also desire to acquire vocational skills to lead a productive life. She worries that she is domesticated due to her condition. As a result, she gets triggered more often and this is really threatening our safety and peaceful coexistence.’’
Precious is appealing to Nigerians to save the life of her last sister, Peace. She said Peace is running psychotic episodes intermittently on a weekly basis, despite being on drugs consistently.
Precious explained that the continuous disruption in Peace’s mental health is worrisome and not helping her condition to improve.
Precious is a 200-level student of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Ibadan centre, studying Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution. Her younger  sister , Peculiar, is a 100-level student of the University of Ibadan, in the Department of Civil Engineering.
Unfortunately, their father is unable to provide the funding for their education due to his current poor financial situation.
Precious said: ‘’I am passionately appealing for assistance for her further medical treatment.
‘’In the course of managing her condition, which is quite expensive, my mom took ill in 2019 and was taken to the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan. She was diagnosed for what the hospital referred to as “likely Ovarian Malignancy.” After surgery her condition was mismanaged. The operated region was left untreated. Doctors and Nurses were heard exchanging blame as to who should have taken the responsibility of dressing the wounds. The operated region was putrefied and was highly infected as offensive odour was perceived from the liquid oozing out of her protruded stomach.
‘’When the hospital was questioned by my dad, chemotherapy procedure was recommended as a quick antidote to address the development and to stabilize her. My dad asked the medical team what was going to be the progress in his wife’s health if chemo intervention was administered. He was given an assurance that after chemo the woman will recover rapidly. But contrary to the assurances a few days after administration of the chemo procedure, my mom’s condition worsened and she started complaining of severe shortness of breath and was placed on 24 hours oxygen administration. Unfortunately, she passed away in 2020. My family is yet to get closure.
‘’Peace is running psychotic episodes intermittently on a weekly basis, despite being on drugs consistently. This continuous disruption in her mental health is worrisome and not helping her condition to improve. My dad is not buoyant to further foot her medical bills. She is being seen by Psychiatrists and Psychologists in a private hospital. The hospital has asked that she be brought back on admission for closer observation, tests review and advanced care. The hospital asked for N120,000 weekly for the reviews, feeding and medical update.
My dad is yet able to provide the funding due to his current financial situation.
‘’I am a 200-level student of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Ibadan center, in the Department of Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution. And my younger sister Peculiar is a 100 level student of the University of Ibadan, Department of Civil Engineering.
‘’Our major challenge is that our father is falling ill too often, with high BP, depression, anxiety disorder and inability to meet up with the financial responsibilities to pay our school fees, upkeep and take care of my sick triplet sister.
‘’Unfortunately, we don’t have any relatives capable of assisting us navigate these storms of life. In the midst of these challenges we believe education can as well serve as the key to survival. I work as an intern in a private office and my salary is N20,000 monthly. It is inadequate to sustain myself not to talk of supporting my siblings. My younger sister made several attempts to get a job to support but was told she is too young to be employed. She is just 17 years old and passionate about her education. My youngest brother is in JSS2 and is 12 years old. It is difficult to feed at the moment.
‘’I am really passionate about my education as well as my younger sister. But the threat of dropping out is terrifying to us already due to our dad’s dwindling health and scarce resources. My school TMA exams are ongoing and the main semester examination is coming up in the month of May. I really want to settle my fees as soon as possible to participate in exams in order not to miss out this semester. Honestly, we are stranded. We don’t wish to miss the semester or face dropping out. We really need some closure to get healed.
‘’We specifically and passionately wish to use this medium to appeal to the humanitarian gesture of my State Governor, Pastor Eno Umoh of Akwa Ibom State for swift intervention and also to spirited Nigerians to please come to our aid, especially in the areas of our school fees and the treatment of my triplet sister. Presently, my younger sister, Peculiar, is in need of a good laptop for her course. We’ve asked for the price of a suitable laptop for her and it is sold at N270,000.
‘’We will appreciate kind hearted assistance from member(s) of the public to fund our school fees e-wallets perhaps for a session to give our parents temporary relief to get well and resume his responsibilities. We will also appreciate full scholarship if given the opportunity.
‘’My dad is into electrical work and can be engaged in both industrial and domestic installation.
‘’We want to survive and contribute positively to society. Despite the challenging situation my family is going through, we believe there’s light at the end of the tunnel. My contact: 08033009695 (whatsApp), 08084110420.’’