Port Harcourt — The death of a HIV/AIDS
patient, Mrs. Chidinma Maureen Lucky, who was allegedly evicted from a
flood relief camp, is generating ripples in Rivers State as a
non-governmental organisation (NGO) in the state has accused the state
government of being responsible for her death.
The NGO, Social Action, alleged that Lucky was sent out of Okwuzu Flood Relief Camp set up for those displaced by floods in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area by the Rivers State Flood Management Committee because of her health status on the orders of the state Deputy Governor, Mr. Tele Ikuru.
Briefing journalists Thursday in Port Harcourt, Head of Communications of Social Action, Vivian Bellonwu, said the late Lucky was ejected from the camp with her three children who are between the age of three and nine.
She said the lady had to take up shelter at an uncompleted building in the community, where she lived with her children until her death on November 24.
While calling on the state Governor, Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, to order an investigation into the incident, Bellonwu said the state should take responsibility for the death of Lucky. "The eviction was largely responsible for the death of Mrs. Chidinma Maureen Lucky. After her eviction, she became dejected and abandoned by the same government that should have protected her," she said.
The NGO also demanded redress for the children of the deceased, stressing that her eviction from the camp violated the rights of the children and their late mother to shelter, human dignity, and protection against discrimination.
Although the NGO played back video recordings of the interaction it had with the lady on the issue before her demise, it did not establish a link between her death and the alleged eviction. It also did not say it offered any help or suggestion on how the patient could get some treatment or relief.
The basic questions are whether it is true or not that Ikuru actually ordered the eviction of the woman and her children. If he did, how did he know that the woman was HIV/AIDS patient? And could a government determined to rescue its people from the inclement element send them back to the same elements unprotected? And why would a government send an HIV patient out, given that it is not a contagious disease?
In a swift reaction, the state government denied any knowledge of the eviction of the late Lucky or anybody from the relief camp.
The NGO, Social Action, alleged that Lucky was sent out of Okwuzu Flood Relief Camp set up for those displaced by floods in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area by the Rivers State Flood Management Committee because of her health status on the orders of the state Deputy Governor, Mr. Tele Ikuru.
Briefing journalists Thursday in Port Harcourt, Head of Communications of Social Action, Vivian Bellonwu, said the late Lucky was ejected from the camp with her three children who are between the age of three and nine.
She said the lady had to take up shelter at an uncompleted building in the community, where she lived with her children until her death on November 24.
While calling on the state Governor, Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, to order an investigation into the incident, Bellonwu said the state should take responsibility for the death of Lucky. "The eviction was largely responsible for the death of Mrs. Chidinma Maureen Lucky. After her eviction, she became dejected and abandoned by the same government that should have protected her," she said.
The NGO also demanded redress for the children of the deceased, stressing that her eviction from the camp violated the rights of the children and their late mother to shelter, human dignity, and protection against discrimination.
Although the NGO played back video recordings of the interaction it had with the lady on the issue before her demise, it did not establish a link between her death and the alleged eviction. It also did not say it offered any help or suggestion on how the patient could get some treatment or relief.
The basic questions are whether it is true or not that Ikuru actually ordered the eviction of the woman and her children. If he did, how did he know that the woman was HIV/AIDS patient? And could a government determined to rescue its people from the inclement element send them back to the same elements unprotected? And why would a government send an HIV patient out, given that it is not a contagious disease?
In a swift reaction, the state government denied any knowledge of the eviction of the late Lucky or anybody from the relief camp.
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