How Bayelsa Government Abandoned Me In Italy - Injured Corps Member

Folakemi Akinbode. Remember her? She is the 26-year-old female corps member from Ekiti State who had her hand cut and almost severed by two suspected cultists on August 5, 2013 while on her way from her place of pri­mary assignment. She was serving at the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital (NDUTH), Okolobiri, Yenagoa Local Gov­ernment Area of Bayelsa State. The two hoodlums, who had earlier disguised as blood donors while she attended to them at NDUTH, had laid an ambush for Folakemi between Obunghan and Okolobiri communities. Left in her pool of blood after the attack, help came for Folakemi when she was rushed to the NDUTH, Okolobiri, where a renowned cardiovascular surgeon, Prof Osinowo, had ensured that her condition was stabilised while arrangements were being made to fly her abroad. By October, there was cheering news when NDUTH authorities said Governor Henry Seriake dickson had approved about N4 million for a surgery to be performed on her at an Italian hospital – Italiano Instituto Di Chirugia Dela Mano. On Wednesday October 9, about 8.45pm, Folakemi’s flight departed Nigeria for Italy. But to her consternation and that of her family members, rather than looking forward to quality medical attention that would fix her hand in good time, she began a life of uncertainty interwoven with anguish and anxiety. The authorities of NDUTH had released a female doctor to travel with her to Italy and the money released by the government was used to pay for flight for Folakemi and the doctor. It also covered their accommodation in Italy, as the arrangement was that she would be going to the hospital from wherever she was staying. Checks indicate that three weeks after she got there, with the money in her debit card already exhausted, the female doctor left for Nigeria, leaving Folakemi behind without the date for the surgery in sight. “The hospital (NDUTH) and the Bayelsa State Government sent Folakemi abroad with four million naira. It covered travelling allowances to Italy for herself and the female doctor that followed her. The female doctor stayed for three weeks and left, leaving only Folakemi there,” Mr. Richard Akinbode, Folakemi’s father said in an interview. According to the family, during the first three months, she was placed on physiotherapy and treatment for infection, to prepare her for surgery. It was then the family was given a bill proper for the surgery, which was in the region of N10 million. “The hospital sent a bill of N10 million for the surgery and the bill was sent to the Bayelsa State Government. After a while, we heard that the government said the bill was too much,” Mr Akinbode disclosed. This was the beginning of a nightmare for the family, as they had to run around to seek for help so that Folakemi would not lose the battle to ever use her hand again. “For between two and three months that I was there, it was as if I was abandoned by those who brought me there,” Folakemi lamented. After repeated calls to Bayelsa State and with no help forthcoming, Mr. Akinbode said he had to inform the NYSC authorities of the situation.

“I had to intimate the NYSC of the situation. I was told to write and make it formal. The NYSC officials in Bayelsa took it upon themselves and N5 million was released. The problem was how to pay the money. Then after getting clearance from the NYSC Director- General, the money was sent to Italy. We, the family, had to raise the remaining balance because I did not send my child to Bayelsa to get injured. While on this, her visa to Italy expired,” he said.

Folakemi was given a three-month visa, and when it expired, she and her family were in a dilemma until a non- governmental organisation, called Pobic Onlus, learnt of her case. Officials of the group advised her to come to Ghana for the surgery, informing her that they would be coming to St. Joseph’s Hospital, Koforidua in Ghana. They told Folakemi that she should do the surgery in Ghana since she was already being threatened with deportation in Italy.

Mr. Akinbode said arrangements were made and Folakemi went to Ghana where the surgery was performed. After that, she was to return to Italy for continuation of physiotherapy but she was denied entry to Italy and her family had struggled to get another visa for her to undergo post-surgery treatment.

Eventually Folakemi went back to Italy and after completing the post-surgery treatment, she is back in Nigeria but displeased with the way she was treated after the attack.

“There was nobody that called to know how I was doing and whether I had, had the surgery. I called them repeatedly, but they were not picking calls. The then Commissioner for Health refused to pick calls and reply messages. I thank God for NYSC that they were able to assist,” she said.

Mr. Akinbode captured the mood of the family better: “She was serving and she is supposed to be the responsibility of government. Did they expect me to beg them before they take care of her? It is not that I cannot take care of my child because God has blessed me with the resources to take care of my children but the proper thing must be done. Some people rose up to intervene. The NYSC coordinator in Bayelsa and officials intervened. People should not be begged to do what they are supposed to do. I also work in an organised place and I would not expect people to beg me for what I am supposed to do. Whether now or in the future, God will judge.”

Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Deacon Markson Fefegha, regretted that the then Commissioner for Health, Dr. Awoli, who would have provided more details about the issue had been dropped. But he denied that the Bayelsa State Government abandoned Folakemi after sending her for treatment.

Fefegha, who said it took the family a while to come to Bayelsa after the unfortunate incident, said a government delegation paid her a visit at the hospital shortly after the incident and also ensured that the two people that attacked her were arrested.

He said a government that released N4 million for her treatment abroad could not be accused of abandoning a corps member attacked in the state.

But Mr. Akinbode is not impressed with the explanation. He said the government should have monitored the progress after the release of the funds.

“I went to visit her in Ghana and I saw the way they took care of her. I thank God that everything is over and whatever is left, God will handle it. I thank the NYSC for their support. The Bayelsa State Government said they gave N4 million but they did not monitor how the money was disbursed. The money was released and it was used to get tickets and offset the cost of accommodation in Italy. I had to send some money to them when they were in Italy. After rounding off her post-surgery treatment and she came back, I called the NDUTH to inform them that she was back but they did not pick calls. I sent text messages and they did not reply. Had it not been that God blessed me with the wherewithal, her hand would have been amputated. The only call I got from Bayelsa was the one, requesting me to come and testify against the two people that attacked her. I have told them to set them free, as I am not interested in the case. God will judge.”

At the NDUTH, officials said they were civil servants and could not comment on the case. They said the state government had already taken over the case from the hospital.