At least eight patients, most of
them in critical condition, collapsed while awaiting medical attention at the
official flag off of a week-long free medical attention sponsored by the member
representing Yola North, Yola South and Girei Federal constituency in the House
of Representatives, Hajiya Aishatu Ahmad.
The free medical mission which
attracted thousands of people with different ailments was flagged off at the
state specialist hospital, Yola.
The patients, who were on queue
for over six hours awaiting the commencement of the ceremony, allegedly
collapsed due to tiredness.
Two of the collapsed patients,
who were hurriedly moved to the Out Patient Department of the hospital were
victims of snake bite.
The others, among them two
women, were vomiting uncontrollably.
Thousands of other patients who
were on queue expressed disgust at the way the organisers of the free medical
services attached more importance to the opening ceremony than saving lives of
the patients.
Declaring the ceremony open,
Hajiya Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed announced that the week-long free medical mission
would treat 450 cataract cases, give 1,100 reading glasses, 2,000 hepatitis B
and 4,000 HIV/AIDS cases.
Former Minister of State for
Health, Dr. Ali Pate, who was the chairman of the occasion, expressed regret
that malnutrition was taking its toll on the society due to the increasing
poverty rate and urged political office holders to provide the needed three
square means to Nigerians, especially children.
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