Oyo rescued pupil diagnosed with heart disease as 31 children leave hospital

A routine medical examination conducted on schoolchildren recently rescued in Oyo State has revealed that one of the pupils has a congenital heart defect, commonly known as a hole in the heart, even as 31 of the children have been discharged from hospital after being certified medically fit.

The condition was discovered during comprehensive medical evaluations carried out at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital in Ogbomoso as part of the state’s post-rescue healthcare programme.

Confirming the development, the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Prof. Olawale Olakulehin, said the affected child is stable and responding well to treatment, stressing that there is no cause for alarm.

“The child has a hole in the heart, which was discovered during our medical evaluation. There is no cause for alarm because the child is stable and responding well,” he said.

Olakulehin added that the hospital had commenced the necessary medical procedures and would formally notify the Oyo State Government to facilitate the next phase of the child’s treatment.

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According to him, 31 of the 39 rescued pupils have been discharged after undergoing thorough medical examinations and being certified fit to return home.

He said the remaining eight children would continue receiving treatment and remain under close medical observation until they are cleared for discharge.

The hospital described the discovery of the congenital heart defect as evidence of the importance of conducting comprehensive medical assessments for victims of traumatic incidents, noting that such conditions can remain undetected without detailed examinations.

Medical experts at the facility also noted that early diagnosis significantly improves the chances of successful treatment, especially for congenital conditions that may not have previously shown obvious symptoms.

Hospital officials assured parents that healthcare professionals would continue to monitor both the physical and psychological well-being of the rescued children as part of their rehabilitation.

The Oyo State Government has maintained that all rescued pupils must complete medical and psychological evaluations before they are reunited with their families, saying the process is necessary to ensure their full recovery and long-term well-being.