Teenager gives birth to two headed baby with no eyes

19-year-old Zainabu Dahiru gave birth to a daughter with what looks like another head attached at the General Hospital, Malumfashi, Katsina State.

The baby girl was alsso delivered with a cleft palate, stunted fingers and no eyes.

Agynaecologist at the Garki Hospital, Abuja, Kayode Obende, said the condition was called encephacele and according to a pediatrician, Ahmad Bala, the baby now at home with his mother needed maximum medical check up to ascertain the nature of the abnormalities.

Encephacele is a neural tube defect characterized by sac-like protrusions of the brain and the membranesthat cover it through openings in the skull. These defects are caused by failure of the neural tube to close completely during fetal development.

Although the baby’s father, Malam Dahiru Umar said the mother had a normal delivery, both mother and child will need to undergo physical checks and X-ray with the baby needing reconstructive surgery eventually.

According to reports, the baby is the couple’s first and 25-year-old petty trader, said his wife attended regular ante-natal care during pregnancy.  Hospital workers had told him that they could not offer any medical assistance after the delivery.

Hence Umar has called  on  government, wealthy individuals and non-governmental organisations for assistance.

He said he was moved to tears seeing the situation, but was consoled when hospital staff informed him that his wife was in a stable condition.

The baby has been referred  to Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Shika, near, Zaria.