Ebonyi disburses N200m to mission hospitals, others

Governor Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State has disbursed N200 million grant to six rural hospitals in the state. The 16th tranche brought the total disbursement to rural hospitals since 2008 to N1.9 billion.  It is aimed at providing infrastructure to the hospitals, modern diagnostic equipment, training for health workers and mid-level manpower. The grant is also aimed at promoting maternal and child health, increasing immunization coverage, practicing free maternal healthcare and to enable the hospitals recruit skilled expert human resource such as doctors, nurses and other paramedics. The grants break down showed that N36 million was given to Mater Misericorde Hospital Afikpo, N27.8 million to Presbyterian Joint Hospital Uburu, N36.2 million to Rural Improvement Mission…

South Africa’s Mandela returns home after long hospital stay

Anti-apartheid leader and former South African President Nelson Mandela returned to his home on Sunday where he will continue to receive intensive care after three months in hospital with a lung ailment. Mandela, 95, had spent 87 days in a Pretoria hospital after he was rushed there in early June suffering from a recurring infection of the lungs, a legacy of the nearly three decades he spent in jail under apartheid. “Madiba’s condition remains critical and is at times unstable. Nevertheless, his team of doctors are convinced that he will receive the same level of intensive care at his Houghton home that he received in Pretoria,” South Africa’s presidency said in a statement. It referred…

Imo State Government reclaims Umuguma Specialist Hospital

The protracted Saga on the handing-over back of the Specialist Hospital Umuguma, Owerri West to the State Government has been put to rest. This followed a special intervention of the acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Jonny Ihebereme between the interim Management of the Hospital headed by Dr. S. O. Amaechi the adviser on health to the Governor and the ministry. Receiving the hand-over note in his office, the Hon. Commissioner for health, Dr. Joe Obi Njoku, thanked Dr. Amaechi for submitting to the State Government’s demands on him to hand over the Hospital. The Commissioner further stated that the action would further bring to an end all other disagreements that had…

30 guests hospitalized after eating “Ugba” – At child dedication ceremony

No fewer than thirty persons were reportedly rushed to various hospitals in Owerri and its environs after taking oil bean delicacy, known as ugba at a child dedication reception. The incident which took place on Sunday, June 23, came after eight members of a family died of suspected food poison (ugba delicacy) in Ngor Okpala not long ago. The June 23 incident, which was a child dedication ceremony (name withheld), took place at Grace Land Estate, Egbeada, Owerri, the residence of the host, after the dedication in a church at a highbrow area of Owerri. The said oil bean was bought at Eke Ukwu Owerri and was prepared by the mother of the baby.  It…

Boko Haram kills 11 in Damaturu, 22 in Maiduguri

Boko Haram insurgents on Sunday, returned to Damaturu, the Yobe State capital almost nine months after the last attack, killing seven students and two teachers, Military authority also said three of the attackers were gunned down. The gunmen were said to have invaded Government Secondary School along Gashua road at about 9.15pm, shooting sporadically.  They also headed for the teachers’ quarters and killed two of the teachers. Apart from the 11 killed, three soldiers were critically injured in another clash with JTF, which lasted about five hours, a source said.  He disclosed that three of the insurgents were arrested by JTF and “are presently in custody”. Chief Medical Officer of the State’s Specialist Hospital, Dr….

Governor Obi showers N100m on Mission Hospitals

… He is a  blessing to humanity –Bishop The Anglican Bishop of Amichi Diocese, Most Reverend Dr. Ephraim Ikeakor has described Governor Peter Obi as a blessing not just to Anambra State, but to humanity at large. He made this comment while receiving a cheque of N10m for the continued renovation of Amichi Diocesan Hospital which was among the missionary-owned institutions Anambra State is supporting in her strategic partnership with the churches. The Bishop who prayed to God to raise more Peter Obis said that people like him were needed for the edification of society. The governor who on June 4, toured some missionary institutions and gave them cheques totaling N120m continued with the tour…

House of horror: Silence grips home of Ngor Okpala poison victims

The house of the victims of the food poison in Egbelu, Nguru Umuowa community in Ngor Okpala was almost scary; the silence around the house was frightening as even fowls in the compound felt the impact of the cold hands of death.  Our reporter,  who visited the deserted house said that it took the courage of a journalist to come close to the house where the meal that wiped out the family of eight stood above. Few villagers who walked across the compound took a conscious glance at the home of the Nwosus as if to say, “Woe betides this house”.  Only the bush and the flowers in front gave a sign of life as…

How widow, six children Died after meal in Ngor-Okpala

- Please help me bury them: Only son appeals to Govt, Individuals When Mr. Masky Nwosu, 29, entered THE LEADER office in Owerri on Wednesday, there was a haunted look in his eyes.  He looked harassed, worried and extremely terrified.  He was accompanied by his brother-in-law, Mr. Eugene Emeana and his cousin, Ikechukwu Emeana. Masky lost his mother and six sisters in mysterious circumstances within two days, May 30–31, 2013.  He probably would have been a victim if he was at home.  He escaped the tragedy because he was at Onitsha, where he was looking for a job. Narrating the incident, Mr. Ikechukwu Emeana said, the tragedy started on Wednesday, May 30, 2013 in their…

Paid in Full with a Glass of Milk

One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry. He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly, and then asked, “How much do I owe you?” “You don’t owe me anything,” she replied. “Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness.” He said, “Then I…

Generator fumes kill mother, five children

Tragedy struck in Bayelsa State in the wee hours when generator fumes killed a mother and five of her children. Five children of Mr. Celestine Onwudili and his wife, Chinyere, were found dead in their house located at Azikoro village road by neighbours in the morning. Bayelsa State has been in total blackout since May 18 when, during a downpour, a tree fell and destroyed the 33KVA transmitter transmitting electricity to the state from the Ahoada-Owerri axis of the Transmission Power Station. Daily Sun learnt that the Onwudili family because of the harsh weather condition had moved their generator into the house and put it on while they were asleep. In the morning, neighbours became…

Bandits raid Holy Rosary Hospital Emekuku

-As Anglican Church beefs up security following robbery attack on cathedral. As cases of kidnapping appear to be receding in Owerri Metropolis, bandits are shifting their notorious activities to homes, churches and their institutions. Last week, armed robbers raided Holy Rosary Hospital Emekuku, owned by the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri, carting away cash and hospital equipment. The Administrator of the hospital, Rev. Fr. Eunan Asomugha said the hoodlums numbering about 10 struck at about 12 midnight on Saturday, May 25, overpowered the security men before breaking into offices. The priest said they broke into his office and any other office that was locked, turning everything upside-down in search of money.  However no kobo was found…

Imo baby factory saga: ‘I never impregnated anyone’ – Suspect

Contrary to police statement, Chukwuebuka Onyemefule, popularly called Oyibo, has denied any involvement in the pregnancy of the 23 girls who were arrested last week by the Police at the Ahamefule Orphanage at Umuaka, Njaba Council Area of the state. The 23-year-old who spoke with Daily sun said the police had lied that he was solely employed by the owner of the motherless babies’ home as a stud. He maintained that he was only employed about three weeks ago to work at the sachet water factory and that 23 girls were all pregnant when he resumed at the sachet water section of the hospital. According to him, “the police lied when they said that I…

Dr Joe Obi-Njoku : Rising from the Grassroots

Imagine him chopping wood with an axe.  Imagine him also shirtless, barefoot, a climbing robe “akpi” on his left shoulder and a machete in his right hand, dividing the bush and heading for the nearest palm tree to cut down the ripe fruits for sale, so he and his family could eat.   Imagine him again taking bamboos from the raffia palm and carefully weaving the traditional bamboo bed – “okpukpo,” (agada in some dialet)  also to make a living. Finally, see him riding an old bicycle from his home at Umueme, Uzagba, in Ikeduru local government, to Mbaise to go to college.   That’s the life of Dr Joe Obi-Njoku, as a young man,…

Auto crash: Why Okorocha was not treated in Government hospital

Insecurity and protracted labour dispute between the State Government and staff of the Imo State University Teaching Hospital (IMSUTH), were reasons why Governor Rochas Okorocha was not taken to the hospital for treatments when he was involved in an auto crash recently. Okorocha’s vehicle had head-on collision with another vehicle belonging to one Osita Nnawuihe on Friday, April 19, 2013 at Umuoma, Orlu, while driving himself without the usual outriders and government house ambulance. Daily Sun learnt that the governor was rushed to St. Mary’s Children and Community Hospital, Umuowa where he received first aid, while Nnawuihe was taken to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Owerri for treatment. The State Government and the teaching hospital…