By News Express
A Nigerian state governor has fallen victim to
misdiagnoses – a potentially dangerous development which claims the life of
many Nigerians, the most famous victim being late fiery activist Gani
Fawehinmi.
Governor Umaru Al-Makura of the north-central state of
Nassarawa was diagnosed of arthritis but on travelling abroad for treatment “it
was subsequently discovered that the ailment was actually not arthritis,” he
told newsmen yesterday.
Addressing the media in his private residence in
Lafia, the state capital, Al-Makura said the ailment that afflicted him had
affected the socket on his right hip, necessitating his undergoing surgery at a
hospital in Newcastle, United Kingdom, about three weeks ago. He said he is now
undergoing physiotherapy that would bring about complete healing.
Yunana Iliya, chairman of the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) in Nassarawa State, had recently advised Al-Makura, who is of the
Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), to resign over his hearing impairment or
face impeachment by the state House of Assembly.
Replying Iliya yesterday, the governor said he was
disappointed that such a highly placed personality would make such remarks on
disability. He described Iliya’s statement as “immoral, inhuman and ungodly.”
News Express recalls that Chief Gani Fawehinmi, a
foremost lawyer and pro-democracy activist, was misdiagnosed, only for him to
be informed much later during a foreign medical trip, that he had cancer –
which eventually killed him. It is believed that he might have been saved if
the cancer had been detected early enough.
Though an oil-rich country, Nigeria lacks
well-equipped hospitals and has lost some of her best medical doctors to
foreign countries. Consequently, the elite now prefer to seek medical treatment
abroad.
Presently, three Nigerian state governors are abroad
for treatment. They are Taraba State Governor, Ibrahim Suntai, who was flown to
Germany following an air crash on Oct. 25, as well as Enugu State Governor,
Sullivan Chime and Cross River’s Liyel Imoke, both of whom are down with
undisclosed illnesses.
In what is an exceptional case, Kogi State Governor,
Idris Wada, chose to be treated in a private hospital in the Nigerian capital,
Abuja, after fracturing his right hip in a Dec. 28 ghastly auto accident.
He successfully underwent surgery and has been
discharged to recuperate in a private residence.
No comments:
Post a Comment