A 4-year-old baby currently admitted at the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital (RVTH) has been recommended by the hospital to undergo overseas medical treatment in Dakar or elsewhere to regain his health.

According to Edrisa Dibba, the father of the baby, "it is true that I really want to undertake any means to help my child, but am very poor and I cannot afford to sponsor his treatment outside The Gambia.   As you can see, I cannot even pay the bills here. I am thinking how to settle this and that of his mother's health as well," said the father in a sad tune.

Mariama Darboe, the mother of the child, said she nearly lost her life during labour, due to the abnormalities of her baby's head.

Explaining her conditions to this paper, Mariama said despite the difficulties she has undergone during labour, her son's health is her first priority. She then appealled to the authorities, individuals, health organisations and all other donor agencies to come to her aid.

A medical report issued to the baby's father, by the RVTH, revealed that Mariama Darboe was admitted on October 11, 2007 at RVTH, with meningocele, which could not be treated locally, and thereby recommended her to go for overseas treatment.

The parent of the affected baby can be reached on   this number,(220)7827003.