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Forum / Naijapals Base (Metro life) / I was told I’ll die 17 yrs ago but… HIV positive nurse |
on: 27-10-2012 08:14 PM
| I was told I’ll die 17 yrs ago but… HIV positive nurse.
On October 27, 2012 · In Just Human
12:09 am
..
0
By Prisca Sam-Duru
Mrs. Georgina Ahamefule, is an indigene of Imo State who tested positive to Human Immuno Deficiency Virus while working as an auxiliary nurse at a certain Medical Centre in Lagos. At first, due to her naivety, she found the whole world crashing on her, no thanks to her employer, Dr Molokwu, the Chief Medical Director of the Medical Centre who terminated her employment which began in 1989 and advised her to go back to her village and die since she had but little time.
A lot happened to this woman, as she shares her traumatic experiences during a tumultuous journey to victory. The high point of her account is that her fighting spirit is backed by God and the Social and Economic Rights Action Center (SERAC).
She won a N7-million lawsuit against Dr Molokwu. It was a landmark judgment for Felix Morka, the executive Director of SERAC who described the judge’s decision as representing a major victory for Georgina and all those living with the HIV virus in the country.
Dr Morka also disclosed during a press conference that the judgment was the first-ever judicial pronouncement on the unlawfulness of HIV-based discrimination and therefore, significant in holding that conducting HIV test without the individual’s consent is tantamount to unlawful battery… Read on.
I joined a certain Medical Centre as an auxiliary nurse in 1989. In 1995, while I was pregnant, I had boils on my skin and I went to my employer for treatment. He carried out medical examinations and diagnostic tests without disclosing the nature and outcome of the tests to me. My employer later referred me for further tests at the University of Lagos Teaching Hospital with a note in a sealed envelope.
The doctor at LUTH on his own part carried out various tests without also disclosing the nature of those tests to me. I was subsequently informed that I had tested positive to the Human Immuno Deficiency Virus (HIV). I was never provided any form of counseling before or after the tests were carried out as required by medical ethics and the law. In fact, I did not understand what was going on but I remember that I was pregnant at that time. The situation was made worse when my employer advised that I should prepare to die since I had not much time.
He also promptly terminated my employment as an auxiliary nurse at the hospital because of my HIV -positive status. In the termination letter dated October 23, 1995, he explained that the hospital’s management could not compromise the facility or its patients by exposing them to risks of being infected with HIV. But surprisingly, he quickly gave me a letter recommending me for employment in other medical facilities.
I suffered serious emotional and psychological trauma as a result of the news of my HIV-positive status. This, coupled with the loss of my employment, contributed to a spontaneous miscarriage of my pregnancy. I was further victimized, rejected, humiliated and put at great risk when my employer refused to carry out evacuation of the miscarried pregnancy which he himself prescribed, on the ground of my HIV -positive status. But thank God doctors at another hospital eventually carried out the evacuation procedure for me.
After that, I thought he was stating the fact about my having little or no time to live and so in obedience, I relocated to my home town and there, I waited to die but death never came. While at the village, I ran into someone who asked me to go to LUTH so that I would receive help. I also obeyed.
It was while I visited LUTH that I ran into my god-mother, Mrs Onyewuenyi who listened to my ordeal and referred me to SERAC. When I visited SERAC, they interviewed me and subsequently, contacted my former employer so as to see if he will do any form of settlement but he ignored SERAC, so, SERAC took the matter to court on my behalf.
The first shocker I got was right in the court. Unfortunately, the unfairness I suffered did not stop at the hands of my employer and his hospital. On July 14, 2000, SERAC filed the lawsuit challenging the termination of my employment as an auxiliary nurse by the Medical Centre and its Chief Medical Director, based on my HIV-positive status.
So, the shocker like I mentioned, happened in 2001. Right there in the court, the then presiding judge in the case, barred me from entering the courtroom because of my HIV -positive status.
The judge further ruled that satisfactory expert evidence must be presented in court to convince her that the judge and others would not become infected with the HIV virus as a result of my mere physical presence in the courtroom. It was a huge blow on my devastated life.
SERAC appealed that decision and the Court of Appeal remitted the matter back to the High Court for trial. Thank God I was allowed to testify in my case without further restrictions in the court, in the compound, and because I made public my status which I am glad I did. Otherwise, I would have died out of ignorance.
Some illiterate and ignorant neighbours avoided me like plague. It would have been okay by me if they did just that, but they went further to humiliate me and pass silly comments when they see me around and in short, they looked for one excuse or the other to tell me the story of my life. They fought my niece who came on holiday, saying she had no mother which was why she can put up with me in my state.
In all this, I am grateful to God for the wonderful husband He gave me. My husband has since then tested negative to the virus and you may be glad to know that I also have a son who is also negative. God has really used Dr Felix Morka and in fact, workers at SERAC who have adopted me as a part of their family, to bless me and give me reason to live. Indeed, they gave me reason to live to see my dream of being victorious come true.
I have been getting assistance from SERAC in terms of feeding, transportation to Lagos each time my case came up because I relocated with my family to Obigbo in Rivers State; they also helped for hospital bills.
On the issue of court case, there was another shocker. As my case progressed, my employer presented false affidavit showing that I had died in my hometown. As you can see, I’m alive and very healthy. So, we discovered that the affidavit was filed in support of a motion seeking to dismiss my lawsuit against my employer and his hospital. The false declaration was one of my employer’s and his lawyers’ strategies to frustrate my determination to get justice in the matter of the wrongful termination of my employment and other violations.
On getting information about their wicked plan, Dr Felix Morka called me and asked if I was okay to travel to Lagos, I said yes and he asked me to take the next flight to Lagos which I did. When I appeared at the court,my employer and his cohorts were shocked.
Well, to cut the long story short, on Thursday September 27, 2012, Honorable Justice Y.O. Idowu the judge at the Lagos State High Court Idowu held that the termination of my employment by the hospital where I worked on the ground of my HIV-positive status is illegal, unlawful and actuated by malice and extreme bad faith.
So she gave an order for 5 Million Naira for general damages for the wrongful termination of my employment to be paid to me and 2 Million Naira as compensation for unlawful conduct of HIV testing without my informed consent and also for negligence.
Right now, I feel on top of the world for my victory and in fact that is an understatement because I can’t explain exactly how I feel now. This is a case that seemed impossible and in fact if the matter was left for me or my family to handle, it would have died a natural death because I’m from a poor background.
I appreciate every effort made by Dr Felix Morka and his workers to see me through this victory without collecting a kobo from me. God will bless them. Now I will have enough to sponsor my son who will be in the university next year. I can also start a good business of my choice or better still, as part of my own contribution, organize a small group that will help other people living with HIV in my community. http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/10/i-was-told-ill-die-17-yrs-ago-but-hiv-positive-nurse/ | | | | |
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Forum / Naijapals Base (Metro life) / igbo man killing his own people in the north? |
on: 27-10-2012 07:30 PM
| The police in Zaria have arrested one Uche Owunna, 30, of Port-Harcourt Road
Police Arrest ‘Boko Haram Killer’ In Zaria
http://news.naij.com/12915.html
The police in Zaria have arrested one Uche Owunna, 30, of Port-Harcourt Road, Sabon Gari, Zaria who is believed to be behind the various assassinations that recently took place in Zaria, especially the killings of Igbos residing in the city; all in the name of Boko Haram.
The Kaduna State Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Aminu Lawal, had confirmed the arrest to Daily Trust yesterday, saying that the suspect is now being interrogated at the police state headquarters.
“A complainant came to report to us that somebody has threatened him. He said the person has directed him to pay certain amount of money or he will be killed. Having received that information, we went in and napped the suspect at the point of collecting the money.
“Investigation is ongoing and this would help us to get more information on the activities of the suspect,” DSP Lawal said.
However, a source that is close to the suspect, who craved for anonymity, told Daily Trust that Owunna was arrested on Tuesday by the police following a tipoff. The source said Owunna was arrested at a joint in Zaria when he went to collect the ransom he demanded.
The source said luck ran out of Owunna when he called one Samuel, an Igbo man, of Sabon Gari, Zaria on phone and told him that his name was Ibrahim.
“The suspect told Samuel that his name is on the list of Igbos to be killed in Zaria, saying that ‘for your gesture to me when I was young, I will not execute the mission. For that reason, I want you to pay N50, 000 only to stay alive’ the suspect told Samuel on phone,” the source said.
The source further explained that Owunna had told Samuel that his gang was behind the killing of Dr Ago, a medical doctor at Zaria Railways Hospital, who was killed along two others in Zaria last month.
“Having heard that the suspect’s name was Ibrahim, Samuel became apprehensive, thinking that it was Boko Haram. What came to Samuel’s mind was that Boko Haram are after him. Our belief here in Zaria is that all the assassinations that took place in Zaria were done by the Boko Haram. This was why Samuel went to report to police and they were lucky to have apprehended the man when he came for the money he demanded,” our source said.
It would be recalled that Zaria had of late became notorious for killing of innocent people where members of the Boko Haram are always blamed for the act.
Just last month three people, including the Medical Director of Railways Hospital, Zaria, were killed at a beer parlour in Sabon Gari, Zaria. Before that, a Zaria businessman and a mobile policeman were also killed in the same month.
The frequent killings led to the restriction of movement of motorbikes to 9pm. Also, that made Igbo communities in Kaduna and Zaria to down tool for some days by locking their shops. | | | | |
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Forum / Naijapals Base (Metro life) / University Cultists Force Female Students To Act Lesbian Film |
on: 26-10-2012 03:12 PM
| The Nigerian Army in Enugu has paraded 21 Enugu State University of Science and Technology students for allegedly torturing and forcing some female students to have stuff among themselves.
The students, most of who confessed to being cultists, told journalists that they took video shots of the lésbian act because they had been offered money by some influential Nigerians.
The idea, the suspects said, was to take tapes of the scenes to their partners in Europe.
Shortly before parading the suspects on Saturday, the General Officer Commanding 82 Division, Maj. Gen. Sarkin Yaki Bello, who spoke through the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa, said the cultists, were arrested in their hideouts at Agbani on the outskirts of Enugu between July 8 and 12, 2011.
Bello said the patrol team of 103 Battalion moved to the ESUT following persistent gunshots at the institution on July 4 and arrested one of the masterminds of the crime, Mr Franklin Anikwe, with five rounds of ammunition.
The GOC said he had directed that a thorough investigation be carried out in order to fish out the pepetrators.
He said, “It was the preliminary investigation conducted by the division’s intelligence group that led to the arrest of the 19 other suspects. Some of the items recoverd from them are four locally made pistols, 10AA cartridges and video clips where the female students were forced to have illicit stuff with themselves during the raid.”
Also recovered were 10 mobile telephone handsets, including the one used for recording the dirty scenes.
By Bola Dauda
http://www.naijapicks.com/2012/10/university-cultists-female-film.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+NaijaPicks+(Naija+Picks)&m=1  | | | | |
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Forum / Naijapals Base (Metro life) / Save us from hoodlums, flood victims beg Uduaghan |
on: 26-10-2012 03:39 AM
| Save us from hoodlums, flood victims beg Uduaghan
By Emma Amaize
WARRI—Flood victims in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State have called on the state government to deploy more security operatives in their camps to forestall possible attacks by hoodlums.
They, however, commended the governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, for providing a measure of security for them, lamenting that in the past few days, hoodlums had been harassing them.
Nevertheless, succor came their way when a Warri-based church, Christ Mercyland Ministry, stormed the Bomadi main town camp with 60 bags of rice and N100,000 cash to cushion the hardship of the internally displaced persons, IDPs.
The church also donated 40 and 50 bags of rice respectively to flood camps at Bomadi Over side and Kpakiama, respectively.
In Bayelsa State, the ministry donated 300 bags of rice and N200, 000 to IDPs in Ekeremor and Sagbama local government areas of the state.
Presenting the items to the Bomadi flood victims, General Overseer of the church, Prophet Jeremiah Fufeyin, sympathised with the victims and counseled that all hope was not lost.
His words: “We thank God for His mercy because He said we should thank Him in everything that is happening to us. We should remember that we did not create ourselves, hence we should always be thankful to Him”.
Fufeyin, accompanied by pastors and members of the church, however, commended the federal and state governments for responding swiftly to the needs of the displaced persons and called on concerned Deltans and organisations, as well as churches, to come to the aid of the victims.
“We must not forsake the displaced persons because this type of thing could happen to anybody,” Prophet Fufeyin said and prayed that such incident should not happen again.
He declared that the flood would end in the first week of November, adding, “This is the word of God.”
Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa, represented by the Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Paul Oyarede, said he was impressed with the sympathy showed by the church towards the flood victims.
Oyarede described the donation as one of the biggest assistance offered the victims, and prayed God to replenish the pocket from which the money came from. http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/10/save-us-from-hoodlums-flood-victims-beg-uduaghan/ | | | | |
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Forum / Naijapals Base (Metro life) / Obi demolishes kidnap suspect’s homes |
on: 26-10-2012 03:36 AM
| Obi demolishes kidnap suspect’s homes
Anambra State Governor Peter Obi yesterday intensified his battle against kidnappers.
He led a team of policemen to demolish buildings belonging to a suspected kidnap kingpin, Emeka Ezekude in Uli, Ihiala Local Government Area.
The demolition was carried out by heavy cranes supervised by the governor and the police.
Obi restated his administration’s determination to make Anambra State uncomfortable for criminals, but comfortable for residents especially during the yuletide period.
According to him, “our policy is to eradicate crime in the state by implementing death sentences on kidnappers as required by our law”.
Obi said aside from demolishing kidnapper’s property to serve as deterrent to others, government would revoke the land upon which such buildings are erected, and transfer same as government property.
He said high grades of arms and ammunition were recovered in the kidnapper’s houses and dens.
Police spokesman Raphael Uzoigwe said Emeka Ezekude had been a high profile criminal in the state. He said he was involved in kidnapping a traditional ruler.
He said the arrest of Ezekude was possible following a tip-off.
Before his arrest, the suspect was a local building contractor in his community and environs.
A source said: “We didn’t know he was into criminal activities until his arrest. He is a known local contractor who supplies sand to people for building”.
“It was later that we discovered that while doing his contract jobs, he was spying on people with the intent to kidnap their parents and relations for ransom,” he said.
The Deputy Commissioner of police in charge of operations, Mr Ayole Abeh, who accompanied the governor to Uli for the exercise, explained that the suspect confessed to being an armed robber and a kidnapper during interrogation.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that one of the buildings, a nine-bedroom executive bungalow, was at the finishing stage. The other was a four bedroom bungalow.
The suspect was said to belong to the kidnap gang led by the Olisa Ifejika, whose mansions were demolished at Oraifite in Ekwusigo Local Government two months ago.
Ifejika was said to have named Ezekude as a member of his gang while being interrogated by the police and investigations led to the discovery of arms and ammunition in his house at Uli.
Items recovered from the house included, one rocket grenade, three grenade propellers, two A.K47 riffles, zero six riffle, 27 A.K47 magazines, 170 rounds of live ammunition and nine chains used in restraining kidnap victims.
The arms and ammunition were hidden underground in plastic containers in his premises.
The demolition brings to three the number of demolitions already carried out in the state.] http://thenationonlineng.net/new/news/obi-demolishes-kidnap-suspects-homes/ | | | | |
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Forum / Naijapals Base (Metro life) / Two kidnapped in Anambra |
on: 26-10-2012 03:30 AM
| Two kidnapped in Anambra
Posted by: Odogwu Emeka OdogwuPosted date: October 26, 2012In: News| comment : 0
Few hours after the Anambra State Government demolished the homes of suspected kidnappers at Uli, two people were yesterday abducted in the state.
The Vice-President of the Amalgamated Traders Association (AMATA), Chief Gozie Akudolu (aka Iroko), and the Director of Works, Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State, Mr Ephraim Enekwenchi, were abducted on Wednesday night.
Akudolu was reportedly kidnapped from his home in Umuanuka, Otolo Nnewi at 9.30pm.
A statement by the union’s Publicity Secretary Dede Uzor Uzor urged Police Commissioner Ballah Nasarawa to go after the abductors.
The statement said three gunmen held Akudolu and drove him away in his Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV).
Enekwenchi was reportedly kidnapped by unknown gunmen as he was driving to his home.
It was gathered that the polytechnic director was forced out of his vehicle, dumped in the gunmen’s operational car. They left foran unknown destination.
Police spokesman Ralphael Uzoigwe, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), confirmed both incidents.
He said the police would go after the kidnappers and release their victims.
Uzoigwe said the police had recovered Enekwenchi’s car.
The police spokesman assured that the suspects would be apprehendedhttp://thenationonlineng.net/new/news/two-kidnapped-in-anambra/ | | | | |
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Forum / Naijapals Base (Metro life) / NDLEA Discovers Drugs Inside Native Cloth, Arrests 8 Suspects |
on: 26-10-2012 01:24 AM
| NDLEA Discovers Drugs Inside Native Cloth, Arrests 8 Suspects!
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has discovered substances suspected to be methamphetamine inside some native clothe called Asho-Oke. Eight suspected drug traffickers were also apprehended with a total of 10.635kg of narcotics. The arrests and seizures took place at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos.
One of the suspects, Tembo Gideon AKA Benson Okechukwu a Nigerian travelling to Thailand with a Zambian passport concealed 2.522kg of methamphetamine inside some native clothe.
The breakdown of drugs recovered includes 4.460kg of methamphetamine, 4.030kg of heroin and 2.145kg of cocaine. Apart from one of the suspects caught attempting to smuggle 3.455kg of heroin from India, others were going outside the country with different quantities of drugs.
NDLEA Commander at the Lagos Airport, Mr Hamza Umar gave the names of the suspects as Onyekwere Wisdom Chinedu, 26years, Obinna Christian Chigbo, 37years, Muogbo Uchechukwu Sixtius, 25years, Tembo Gideon aka Benson Okechukwu, 25years and Orabusinze Chukwuka Joseph, 28years. Others are Ogbonnaya Kalu Robert, 54years, Obiorah Celestine Nonso, 31years and Udeh Lazarus Makwe, 44years.
Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade in his Sallah message urged members of the public to shun drug trafficking and criminal acts capable of truncating their God ordained destinies. In his words, “it is sad that these suspected drug traffickers are behind bars when they ought to be with their families this festive season.
Drug trafficking and other criminal acts will only lead to misery, shame and unfulfilled dreams”.
The suspects will be charged to court soon.
http://www.osundefender.org/# | | | | |
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Forum / Naijapals Base (Metro life) / Police kill three kidnap suspects,rescue Catholic priest |
on: 24-10-2012 05:42 AM
|
AWKA – Anambra State Anti robbery Squad, SARS, yesterday,
gunned down three suspected kidnappers and arrested six others
during a gun battle that lasted over an hour.
The state police command, at a briefing in Awka, said two of the
victims of the kidnappers, Rev. Fr. C. Okoye of Archdiocese of
Onitsha and one Onyekwelu Jonathan Eledu, were rescued by the
police.
According to the police, the suspects killed were members of the
dreaded gang that had been terrorizing the state which had the
late Olisa Ifedika, alias Ofeakwu, as their kingpin. Ifejika’s house at
Oraifite in Ekwusigo local government area had since been
destroyed.
The police said they were able to dismantle the suspects’
detention camp at Orsumoghu in Ihiala local government area.
The hoodlums were said to have demanded a ransom from the
family of the Reverend Father before luck ran out on them.
The police also said it had arrested 14 armed robbery suspects in
the state since October 1, 2012, while two other robbery suspects
were killed in a gun battle.
Items recovered from them include two- AK 47 riffles, one rocket
launcher, one rocket, four rocket propellers, 18 AK 47, magazines
and 300 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition.
According to the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Raphael
Uzoigwe, the operatives are working assiduously to track down
fleeing wounded members of the syndicate, while SARS was
investigating the armed robbery suspects.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/10/police-kill-three-kidnap-suspectsrescue-catholic-priest/
Re: Police Kill Three Kidnap Suspects,rescue Catholic Priest by Osiris.211: 3:37am
Just a thin line between these people and Boko Haram. smh!
Re: Police Kill Three Kidnap Suspects,rescue Catholic Priest by dayokanu(m): 3:37am
Osiris.211:
AWKA – Anambra State Anti robbery Squad, SARS, yesterday,
gunned down three suspected kidnappers and arrested six others
during a gun battle that lasted over an hour.
The state police command, at a briefing in Awka, said two of the
victims of the kidnappers, Rev. Fr. C. Okoye of Archdiocese of
Onitsha and one Onyekwelu Jonathan Eledu, were rescued by the
police.
According to the police, the suspects killed were members of the
dreaded gang that had been terrorizing the state which had the
late Olisa Ifedika, alias Ofeakwu, as their kingpin. Ifejika’s house at
Oraifite in Ekwusigo local government area had since been
destroyed.
The police said they were able to dismantle the suspects’
detention camp at Orsumoghu in Ihiala local government area.
The hoodlums were said to have demanded a ransom from the
family of the Reverend Father before luck ran out on them.
The police also said it had arrested 14 armed robbery suspects in
the state since October 1, 2012, while two other robbery suspects
were killed in a gun battle.
Items recovered from them include two- AK 47 riffles, one rocket
launcher, one rocket, four rocket propellers, 18 AK 47, magazines
and 300 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition.
According to the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Raphael
Uzoigwe, the operatives are working assiduously to track down
fleeing wounded members of the syndicate, while SARS was
investigating the armed robbery suspects.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/10/police-kill-three-kidnap-suspectsrescue-catholic-priest/ | | | | |
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Forum / Naijapals Base (Metro life) / Sorrow, tears in Anambra |
on: 23-10-2012 02:01 AM
|
As flood still renders millions homeless
From EMMANUEL UZOR, Onitsha
These are definitely not the best of times for the government and people of Anambra State, as they have continued to be at the mercy of the devastating effects of the recent menace of flooding which have swept across the council areas of the state. Daily Sun gathered that of the 21 local government areas that make up the state, almost seven council areas have been completely swept away by the fury of the flood.
The worst hit are those located at the bank of the river. The entire communities in Anambra East, Anambra West, Anyamelum, Oyi, Ogbaru, Awka North and Awka South as well as Onitsha North and South are no more. They have all gone with the flood and the residents have been turned to refugees in different makeshift camps provided by the state government.
For instance, the entire communities in Anambra East, the Umueze-Anam, Umueri, Otuocha and the rest have all been submerged by the flood while residents of the remaining communities fear that their communities might be submerged soon. The River Niger that overflowed its banks, as gathered, was responsible for the flooding at Ogbaru council areas where residents of nine communities were sacked. The river emptied its excess water into the helpless communities and destroyed their farmlands.
Daily Sun visited some of the affected communities in Ogbaru, Anambra East and Anambra West council areas. The nine communities that make up Ogbaru; Atani, Akiri, Osamalla, Ochuche, Ogbuakuba, Umunankwo, Ohita, Iyiowa and Odekpe have all been sacked by the flood while the remaining Okpoko community is seriously being threatened by the flood.
Livestock are not spared either, just as schools, churches and hospitals are all gone. Business activities have been brought to a halt. All the communities, including the major roads, are covered with water.
Residents move their belongings, including mattresses, from the submerged houses to safety while women and children have been evacuated to safety by the state government. Since the flooding commenced, several citizens, including members of the political class, businessmen and others from all walks of life have commiserated with the state government.
Many have been assisting the victims through provision of relief materials and cash donations to those in the refugee camps.
Among the first callers to the victims was Governor Peter Obi who, on seeing the level of devastation in the affected communities within Ogbaru and Anambra East and West, broke into tears. He visited Ossomala, Ochuche, Umuodu, Akili-Ogidi, Akili-Ozizor and Atani in Ogbaru Local Government area and Oroma Etiti, Ezi-Anam, (Umuikwu and Umudora), Umuenwelum, Umueze-Anam, Umuoba-Anam, Nmiata, Innoma, Ukwalla, Owelle, Igbedor, Odekpe, Odemagu, Nzam and Igbokenyi in Anambra West and promised to help the victims regain their lost items.? ? At both local governments areas, Obi condoled with the affected communities and assured them that the state would stand by them at a period he described as hopeless for them. After visiting the affected communities, the governor, in a broadcast to the state, expressed shock at what he discovered.
He said: “The level of devastation suffered by these communities is much more than what we were even told. Numerous farms were destroyed and washed ashore, while houses were submerged in the flood. Closer to the banks of the River Niger on Ogbaru area, the river has also caused a dangerous coastal erosion that has made the relocation of those living within the affected axis a necessity.”?? Though he said that the state government had taken immediate measures within her capacity, he urged the Federal Government to intervene by declaring the affected local governments ‘flood disaster areas.’
According to him, the Federal Government should embark on measures to manage the situation and save lives and property of the communities from further devastation. Also speaking when he visited the affected communities within Ogbaru, Anambra East and West, Senator Any Uba, representing Anambra South Senatorial District, consoled the victims of the disaster and donated over N10 million to them.
Uba while speaking at Atani, the council headquarters of Ogbaru, said though the calamity was not man-made, the entire people of the state would remain in a mourning mood for a long time because of the devastating effects of the flood on the residents of the area.
He said he decided to visit them personally after hearing about the disaster and said the Anambra flood remained the highest, adding: “the one we’ve been hearing is that of Kogi but unless you come as I have come today, you will not know that Kogi flooding is a child’s play.
“We are going to make sure that the plight of these people displaced from their homes by this unfortunate flood which did not spare their farmlands and livestock are included in the next budget to help them come back to their normal life.” For Dr. Obinna Uzoh, the entire episode remained a very unfortunate incident. The flood and other natural disasters, he said, have devastated the entire state. He enjoined residents of the affected areas to remain vigilant to forestall any loss of life and property. Uzoh described the recent development in the state as a clear sign that the state would soon be enveloped by famine.
According to him, “ the areas affected by the flood are the food basket of the state. For instance, the entire Ogbaru, Anambra East, West and Anyamelum have been the food hub of Anambra State and the flood has destroyed their farmlands, but we shall make sure we help them back to their best.” The philanthropist donated money and consumable items to the victims of the disaster.
He said he would return to access the level of damage and know the areas where they might need further assistance. Speaking to journalists after visiting some of the affected council areas that were affected by the flood, the leader of Anambra caucus in the National Assembly, Mrs. Uche Ekwunife said this year’s flood disaster affected so many communities in the state. Mrs. Ekwunife, who is also chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Environment, wept after visiting some of the communities in Anambra East and West, Ogbaru, Anyamelum and Awka North and South, describing the incident as unfortunate and painful.?
“The situation is unbearable, and as we watch our people and loved ones being displaced by this unfortunate flood, our hearts bleed and that is why we have come to personally access the situation and know the situation with a view to knowing how to help you bounce back to life and regain your homes.
“It is also most unfortunate that the worst hit of these natural disaster that has plagued us as a people is Ogbaru where every community was submerged by flood. We want to assure you that we are going to make a presentation in the National Assembly to how to help you,” she said.
Also speaking, the member representing Awka North and Awka South federal constituency, Mr. Emeke Nwogbo expressed sadness at the level of damage and the number of displaced persons at Awba Ofemili, Ugbenu, Achala and Ebenebe and said he would make sure the federal government comes to their aid. Nwogbo said some of the communities that were submerged by the flood would receive special assistance from the federal government through proper presentation.?Mr. Afam Ogene, representing Ogbaru federal constituency, also spoke on the condition of the people of Atani, Odekpe and other communities affected.http://sunnewsonline.com/new/cover/sorrow-tears-in-anambra/ | | | | |
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Forum / Naijapals Base (Metro life) / How my husband, doctor sold my newly born baby |
on: 23-10-2012 01:57 AM
| How my husband, doctor sold my newly born baby
Woman cries out as police bust syndicate in Onitsha
A 20-year-old woman from Ebonyi State is accusing her husband of conniving with a medical doctor to sell off her one-day-old baby. Charity Nwuzo went to a hospital (names withheld by us) to seek medical care like other normal pregnant women, but little did she know that she was in the den of baby sellers. She was delivered of a baby boy, but she never came out of the hospital with her new bundle of joy.
The story of Charity was a very pathetic one. Mrs. Ngozi Ibeneme, a neighbour to the victim, said Charity endured unbearable pains before and while giving birth to the baby. Charity claimed she gave birth to a bouncing baby boy in the said hospital only for her to wake up and discover, to her chagrin, that her new baby was nowhere to be found.
She subsequently raised the alarm, which attracted passers-by to the hospital. The incident was thereafter reported at the police station. Daily Sun gathered that young Charity got pregnant for her boyfriend who absconded to an unknown place afterwards.
She later intimated her boss, one Emma (surname withheld) who she was working for as a salesgirl at Nkpor, of the development. He allegedly offered to marry her and assist her in her condition.
It was Emma, Charity’s former employer, now husband, that allegedly took the young woman to the hospital located at Owerri-Ebo Street, in the commercial city of Onitsha where Charity registered for antenatal care.
However, the unexpected happened after the young expectant mother allegedly gave birth to a bouncing baby boy. Instead of savouring the joy of motherhood, especially since her baby would no longer be called a bastard, Charity’s employer turned husband allegedly conspired with the medical director of the hospital to sell the one-day-old baby.
Narrating her ordeal, the victim disclosed that an ultra-sound test conducted on her by the doctor detected that she had a baby boy, which she said increased the joy of her supposed husband who later got the child sold off. “When the doctor conducted an ultra-sound test on me which detected that I was bearing a baby boy, he told my husband. And my husband was very happy.
He even increased the love and care he had for me. I thought I had finally arrived and that at least my baby will no longer be called a bastard since somebody had agreed to be his father. “Then, one day, I was in a ward in the hospital when a woman dressed in Nigerian Immigration uniform entered and met the doctor. I saw them together, and I overheard them discussing something like buying or selling a baby boy for the sum of N600, 000.
Later in the evening of that same day, I was invited into the theatre where I was held and forced down by the wife of the doctor, my husband, and some other people that I could not identify. Then the doctor injected me and I fell asleep immediately. After that, I was operated upon.
“My unborn baby boy of seven months and three weeks old was removed and sold to the immigration officer. When I recovered and requested to see my baby, I was given N100, 000.
But I didn’t collect the money. I rejected it and insisted on having my baby because if I should go home without my baby, my people who were already aware of my pregnancy would reject me. When they realized that I was adamant and still refused to collect the N100, 000, they pushed me out of the hospital with the caesarean wire still in my stomach. They also seized my handset to stop me from communicating with people.
“It was one Miss Chika Ejiofor who took me to her house, and later introduced me to a lawyer, Mr. Akonanya who offered to give me free legal services.” Meanwhile, policemen attached to “D” Department of the State CID, Awka, swooped into action and arrested the said medical director, his wife and the supposed husband of the victim.
According to a police source who pleaded anonymity, the doctor was arrested together with his wife, and five other members of the syndicate. One of those arrested was a teacher at the Central Primary School, Umuoji in Idemili Local Government area. They were accused of taking part in the criminal buying and selling of newly born babies.
The suspects, who are currently helping the police in their investigation, are accused of belonging to a very powerful syndicate that specializes in stealing babies and harbouring young pregnant teenagers to procreate for the purpose of selling their babies to wealthy individuals.
They were also accused of housing prostitutes, impregnating them for the purpose of rearing babies for sale, organizing maternity services for pregnant women and selling newly born babies without the approval of the mothers, among other accusations levelled against them.
The medical doctor, who was described as the leader of the syndicate, was also accused of running a maternity home at Amaorji village, Umuoji in Idemili Local Government area of Anambra State where he allegedly employed many staffers that assisted him in transacting the illicit business.
The police source further revealed that the arrest of the medical doctor and the smashing of the dangerous baby stealing syndicate were made possible following a petition to the Anambra State Police Commissioner, Mr. Ballah Nasarawa dated September 17.
The petition was written by Mr. Afam Akonanya of the Obochie Chambers, Awka. He’s also the counsel to Charity Nwuzo. Akonanya, in the petition, had alleged that the medical doctor and his group were committing pathetic, awful and untoward criminal acts, including the sale of a newly delivered baby boy. He had urged the police authorities not to play with the petition.
The lawyer said in the petition that to placate his client, the suspects must return the exact baby boy that Charity delivered in the hospital. “The act is barbaric and unless these issues are treated based on its merit, we shall explore legal means to get justice,” Akonanya had noted in the petition. When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ralph Uzoigwe, confirmed the arrests. He said, however, that he was yet to receive full details of the incident. http://sunnewsonline.com/new/national/how-my-husband-doctor-sold-my-newly-born-baby/ | | | | |
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Forum / Naijapals Base (Metro life) / 5,000 Nigerians seek overseas treatment monthly – NMA |
on: 23-10-2012 01:53 AM
| | 5,000 Nigerians seek overseas treatment monthly – NMA
October 23, 2012 by Friday Olokor, Abuja 1 Comment
OVER 5,000 Nigerians travel to India and other countries monthly for medical treatment, the Nigeria Medical Association said on Monday.
As a result, Nigeria loses over $500m annually, with $260m going to India.
The President of NMA, Dr. Osahon Enabulele, WHO said this at a press briefing to herald the Physicians’ Week with the theme: ‘Prescription Rights—its Abuse and implications for the Health of Nigerians’, regretted the situation.
The NMA challenged political leaders in the country “to stand in the same queue with ordinary Nigerians to seek medical care and conduct health checks in public hospitals”.
Enabulele said, “Years of systemic decay by a lack of political commitment, cancerous levels of corruption and mismanagement of our collective wealth have adversely affected the health sector even such that today, our political leaders seem not to have confidence in health care facilities established by them.
“Available evidence shows that over 5,000 Nigerians visit India and other countries every month for medical tourism with lots of these Nigerians faced with various risks and challenges, including misdiagnosis, legal and ethical issues, exposure to infectious diseases, as well as other complications, particularly post-surgical complications.
“On the average, between $20,000 and $40,000 is said to be spent by a traveller on each health trip. Records also show that over $500m is lost annually by Nigeria on account of medical tourism to countries outside Nigeria. Indeed, it has been shown that India earns over $260m from medical tourism from Nigeria alone. It has been projected that this year India will realise between $1bn and $2bn from a medical tourism market worth over $20bn.”
The NMA boss added, “One of the problems plaguing Nigeria’s health care system is gross abuse of prescription rights facilitated by factors such as poor regulatory and legal framework, poverty and out-of-pocket financing of health care, poor governance, high level illiteracy and a weak health system.
“Whereas the existing National Drug Policy clearly asserts that only licensed medical and dental practitioners are permitted to prescribe drugs and medicines on account of their competence to make diagnosis; in Nigeria, virtually everyone prescribes drugs.”
He called for appropriate legislative, regulatory and educational measures to change the situation
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