COVID-19 : Fear grips Onitsha residents over disappearance of index case

…Rights groups react

By Phil Okose Onitsha

An uneasy calm now pervades the atmosphere in Onitsha, Anambra State, over alleged dumping of an index case of the coronavirus pandemic at Onitsha General Hospital and his subsequent disappearance sequel to alleged government inability to provide him with the needful as necessary.

Consequently, the residents of Onitsha and two human rights organizations, Civil liberties Organization, CLO, and the International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law, intersociety have reacted urging the three tiers of government to live up to their responsibilities.

According to a resident who simply identified himself as Peter, “we are yet to understand the game, if this man, Chief Marcel  Ezeh, is a victim of the COVID 19, why should he not be taken care of by the state government that brought him to the general hospital Onitsha.

“He complained that he was dumped, uncared for, without food and medication and yet this is a government that told us that it was more than ready for the virus. The man, though claimed he was not a carrier of the disease and is ready to present his medical laboratory result to prove his case still, the state government through the Information Commissioner, tried to tell us that he has family problem which necessitated his denying to be a carrier. Funny tales”

“I mercy for those who rely on government for help when sick. As it is now the man has left the hospital unguarded and if actually he has the virus, we are finished including the government because the government cannot run away from the people”

“As it stands now nobody is sure of the truth and we have been quarantined for another two consecutive weeks without the enabling, we will not die, God always comes to the rescue of His people, let them continue to play God”.

“Those who abandoned Onitsha General hospital when this man was brought in will have a story to tell as to the fear they had then. An index case that cannot be authenticated and no plan whatsoever to help him out if he is a carrier and the gate of the hospital very open for him to vanish into the thin air, Anambra people I bow for you”

Also reacting, an artisan, Uwadiegwu Omeihe said, “no food for me as I am talking to you now.  I prefer to die from covid-19 than hunger; I never believed that I will experience another hunger after the civil war. We are chased inside like fowls by security operatives whenever we come out to look for what we will eat and that was why in my presence at Nkpor on Wednesday two boys were shot dead by the police for looking for water to drink, there was a mayhem, revolution is on the way, let government be ready because it is going to be war between the poor and the rich and like you know God is always with the poor, we will win the war, thank you”

in his reaction, the state branch chairman of CLO, comrade Vincent Ezekwueme urged the Federal Government to establish Covid-19 Testing Center In Anambra State.

He pleaded with Federal Ministry of Health and National Center For Disease Control to as a matter of uttermost urgency and immediacy establish Covid-19 testing center in Anambra State following the discovery of index positive patient in the state.

“It is significant hence the need to establish the center is not only necessary but inevitable if the state will contain the spread of coronavirus pandemic.”

“I commend patriotic and selfless sacrifices of Dr Chike Ihekwuaba, Director General National Center For Disease Control, to eliminate the pandemic and recent palliatives the center donated to Anambra state government.”

On the CLO’s appraisal of the lock down extension and attendant hardship and sufferings to citizenry especially those who cannot guarantee their daily bread, he prayed, “I wish to appeal to government to involve religious leaders in disbursement of palliatives to indigent citizenry and those who depend on their daily income to fend for their families”.

“CLO wishes to appeal to government to out of their magnanimity reconsider the closure of drug markets in view of the fact that it concerns saving of human life and to ensure wealthy nation”.

In his contribution, chairman of Intersociety, Nze Emeka Umeagbalasi said that, “following the obvious incapacity and inability of state government to put in place realistic control measures including fumigation of all residences, to ward off further spread of covid 19 across the state, we have with most humility and respect written to the state Commission.

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