As patient solicits for help
The present economic recession in Nigeria under President Buhari has hit the citizens so hard that a family man ran away, abandoning his sick wife in a hospital because of a paltry bill. MOKWUGWO SOLOMON reports his findings:
Unless the Ebonyi state Governor, Chief Dave Umahi comes to the res­cue of Mrs Uzoamaka Onu, a 39-year-old food vendor from Okpoto Community, Ishielu Local Government Area of Eb­onyi State, she may die of pains from her cancerous ailment.
Mrs Onu has cried out to individuals across the coun­try and beyond to come to her rescue as she is currently battling with cancer. And the only person who comes to her mind immediately is the Governor and his wife.
Mrs. Onu, a mother of seven is currently admitted at New Mayor Hospital and Fertility Center, located along Afor-Nkpor Junction, Ogidi, Idemili North Local Govern­ment Area of Anambra State.
The AUTHORITY learnt that the husband of the mother of seven stopped visiting the hospital after his wife success­fully went through a surgery which affected her right breast; and that for a long time now, he has not been seen either in his residence or in the hospital.
It was gathered that be­fore her present health chal­lenges, Mrs. Uzoamaka Onu had been a dedicated, re­sourceful and dutiful woman.
But today, she can no long­er engage in any venture to keep body and soul together as well as fend for her family.
When our correspondent visited her at the hospital, she narrated how the gradual but painful journey to the hospital began. As she narrated her or­deal, tears rolled down freely.
"It was in 2013", she began, "that I started experiencing an excruciating pain in my right breast and in my lungs; but I had no knowledge of what challenges that awaited me. I only visited patent medi­cine stores for solution; but instead of the pains calm­ing down, it became worse.
"However, it was on the advice of some friends and family members that I de­cided to visit General Hos­pital, Abakiliki, where I was diagnosed of a breast cancer".
According to Mrs. Onu, "Af­ter waiting for a while at the General Hospital, Abakiliki, without any improvement, I travelled to Lagos to seek an­other medical attention in a pri­vate hospital; that was in 2014.
"In 2015, I further visited University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozala (UNTH), Enugu State, where specialists observed that my condition was rather getting worse by the day.
"However, about six months ago, I was brought to this pre­sent hospital, New Mayor Hos­pital and Fertility Center, Ogidi, where I was operated upon and my right breast removed; that was after an initial deposit of two hundred and thirty thou­sand naira (N230, 000) out of seven hundred and fifty thou­sand naira charged by the hospi­tal management as medical bill.
"I am humbly appealing to spirited individuals, corporate bodies, religious organizations, market unions and organized private sectors to come to my assistance by donating gener­ously to upset the remaining five hundred and twenty thou­sand naira (N520, 000) so that I would be permitted to leave the hospital. Spirited Nigerians wishing to assist could do so through: Onyemaechi Hope for the Helpless Foundation, UBA Plc 2069558115 or visit Mrs. Uzoamaka Onu, New Mayor Hospital and Fertility Centre, Afor-Nkpor, Old Enugu/Onit­sha Road, Ogidi, Anambra State.
In a brief chat with The AU­THORITY, South East Crew, the Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. B.P. Ossai, said that the case of his patient, Mrs. Uzoamaka Onu, was very pathetic as the removed breast was discovered to have rotten and was oozing offen­sive odour before she was op­erated upon. He said though Mrs. Onu had undergone very successful surgery, she still has to undergo special physiother­apy screening by an oncolo­gist at the University of Ibadan Teaching Hospital (UITH).




Posted by-Abdul (The Authority)