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Burnt Corpses: Family members accuse Anambra Govt. of nonchalance

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BY: Ikenna Oluka

  • Demand for DNA results

Family members of the burnt corpses at the Enugwu-ukwu General Hospital, Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State, have tasked the hospital management to provide them with the DNA results of the corpses.

The aggrieved family members had earlier in the week blocked the entrance of the hospital, preventing staff members, patients and visitors from getting in or getting out.

The protesters regretted that they had waited for two months after the incident without getting any information from the hospital management regarding the DNAs so they could give their loved ones a befitting burial.

GrassRoots gathered that the General Hospital morgue was in December last year gutted by a mystery fire, which burnt and defaced about 80 corpses deposited there.

Following the incident, the corpses were transferred to the Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital for government pathologists to run DNA tests on the corpses so as to help families identify their loved ones.

So far, about four corpses have been identified and buried by their family members but the protesters claimed that the burnt corpses of their loved ones have been dumped at the back of the Teaching Hospital in Awka “for vultures to feast on”.

Though the cause of the inferno is yet to be ascertained, the protesting families wondered why the State Government was yet to set up a panel of enquiry to look into the issue, two months after the ugly incident happened or at least reach an understanding with the affected families of the unidentified corpses.

One of the protesters, Mr. Christian Okoye, whose mother, Mrs Amoge Okoye, was among the burnt corpses, said that the protesters locked the entrance gate to the hospital so as to demand from government the corpse of their loved ones.

His words: “Over 200 corpses were burnt in that morgue but till date, the (state) government has not deemed it worthy to set up a panel of enquiry.

“We have a deputy governor who is from this town, Enugwu-ukwu, yet they want this matter to die a natural death.

“We want to know who is responsible for the act, otherwise, we hold the government responsible for the act.

“We demand DNA test to identify the corpses of our loved ones or a mass burial organised to give the dead the last respect as we do in Igbo land.”

Source: NewsExpress

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First Lady Oluremi Tinubu Flags off Free to Shine Campaign Against HIV/AIDS, other STDs in Enugu

Gov. Mbah, wife, pledge collaboration, reports SANDRA ANI

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Senator Oluremi Tinubu

Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has flagged off the Free to Shine Triple Elimination Campaign, an initiative of the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development, OAFLAD, and global partners to eradicate HIV/AID, Syphilis and Hepatitis by 2030.

Flagging-off the campaign at the International Conference Centre, Enugu, on Tuesday, the founder of the Renewed Hope Foundation, Senator Tinubu said the initiative was an imperative, since Nigeria bore the highest burdens of HIV infection in sub Saharan African due to her large population.

“We launched the campaign in January 2025 and have flagged it off in five political zones of North Central, North East, North West, South South and South West. Today, we have flagged off the campaign in southeast to complete the Free to Shine campaign.

“Our aim is to reduce HIV infection among women, prevent mother and child transmission and ensure that every child born with it gets the necessary treatment,” Tinubu said.

First lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Governor Peter Mbah and wife
First lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu in a group photograph with Governor Peter Mbah, the wife and other dignitaries at the event.

She thanked Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State and his Wife, Mrs. Nkechinyere Mbah and the people Enugu State for the warm reception accorded to her and her entourage. During her two-day working visit.

Throwing his weight behind the campaign, Governor Mbah, said his administration had taken health seriously because a healthy population is the foundation on which progress is built.

“Here in Enugu State, we have aligned our healthcare priorities with the vision of the ‘Free to Shine Campaign.’

“By September, we would have completed and fully equipped 260 Type 2 Primary Healthcare Centres in all wards — each with accommodation for health workers to ensure round-the-clock care.

“We have also strengthened our secondary and tertiary healthcare systems and broadened access to health insurance and emergency services, especially for the most vulnerable.

“These efforts are already yielding results — with a significant reduction in maternal, under-five and infant mortality.

“But we know the work is not done. No health system can thrive in isolation or assume it no longer needs support. This is why we embrace the goals of the ‘Free to Shine Campaign’ — goals that seek to eliminate stigma, expand access to HIV treatment, and, most importantly, end mother-to-child transmission of HIV,” he stated.

The First Lady of Enugu State, Mrs Mbah, commended Senator Tinubu and OAFLAD for providing leadership against the scourges of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.

“I commend the First Lady, Her Excellency Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for demonstrating leadership and commitment to the health and well-being of Nigerians.

“As 2023 data from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) shows, Nigeria has one hundred and forty thousand (140,000) children aged 0 – 14 living with HIV, with twenty-two thousand (22,000) deaths each year. This is an enormous public health burden with vast social and economic implications. So, the ‘Free to Shine Campaign’ is indeed a creation of necessity,” Mrs. Mbah said.

She expressed total support for the initiative, noting that “collaboration is the driving force of change and development.”

“When we collaborate, problems that seem intractable are solved. So, I am confident that the goals of this campaign will be achieved in Enugu State, in Nigeria – and across Africa. What is required is whole-hearted dedication,” she concluded.

The event featured a general overview of the Free to Shine Campaign, by the Executive Secretary for OAFLAD, Dr. Nardos Berhanu, testimonials and experience sharing by persons living with HIV/AIDS, drama presentation by Members of the National Youth Service Corps, and goodwill messages by development partners, among others.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian First Lady was conferred with the chieftaincy title of Ugosinamba (Precious Jewel/Eagle from another kingdom) by the Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers, citing her love for Enugu and service to the nation and humanity.

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Enhancement of Military Health Services: Matawalle Meets U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for Health

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Dr. Bello Muhammed Matawalle
Minister of State for Defence, H.E. Dr. Muhammad Bello Matawalle

In a significant move to bolster Defence Health Services and strengthen the partnership between the United States and Nigeria, the Minister of State for Defence, H.E. Dr. Muhammad Bello Matawalle, met with a U.S. delegation led by Dr. David Smith, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for Health.

A statement endorsed by Henshaw Ogubike, director of Information and PR at the Ministry, shows that the the meeting focused on enhancing the existing collaboration in defence health between the two nations, which has previously facilitated the establishment of high-tech laboratories in Nigeria.

The Honourable Minister commended the U.S. for their efforts and urged for the expansion of these medical facilities beyond Abuja and Lagos to reach more derserved regions.

Dr. Matawalle emphasized the strategic integration of health services to improve the welfare of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, stating, “A healthy military is the backbone of a strong nation.” He reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring that military personnel have access to top-tier healthcare services and facilities. To this end, he called for an increase in the defence budget allocated to health, viewing it as a vital investment in the nation’s future and stability.

Furthermore, the Minister highlighted that these initiatives align with Nigeria’s broader commitment to enhancing military readiness while addressing public health challenges that affect both service members and the civilian population. He noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is dedicated to improving healthcare for military personnel and civilians, recognizing healthcare as a cornerstone of national security.

In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana mni, stated that this initiative would positively impact military health and serve as a model for strengthening Nigeria’s overall healthcare system. “This collaboration marks a turning point for Nigeria’s defence health system,” he asserted.

Dr. Smith praised the Minister for his proactive approach to health readiness, underscoring the critical connection between health systems and military effectiveness. “Health is as crucial as any weapon system in ensuring military success, and we are committed to supporting Nigeria’s efforts to enhance its defence health system,” he remarked.

The U.S. delegation is in Nigeria to further advance initiatives aimed at sustaining progress against HIV, accelerating efforts towards the United Nations’ 95-95-95 goals, and working towards the elimination of HIV as a public health threat by 2030.

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Neptune Prime publisher to unveil cancer clinic, school, foundation for late journalists’ families as son weds in Yobe

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publisher of Neptune Prime newspapers, Dr Hassan Gimba
Publisher of Neptune Prime newspapers, Dr Hassan Gimba

The publisher of Neptune Prime newspapers, Dr Hassan Gimba, has announced plans to commission three major projects in his home state, Yobe State

In an invitation letter sent to newsmen on Wednesday, the publisher disclosed that the event, which is scheduled to take place on August 31, is coinciding with the wedding Fatiha of his son, Barrister Suleiman Gimba.

According to the letter, the wedding Fatiha will take place by 11:00am at the residence of Mohammed Babate, Behind Water Board, Army Barracks, Potiskum.

“Immediately after the wedding Fatihah, we will be commissioning the Hafsatu Gimba Ahmed Memorial School located at VIO Street, Unguwar Jaji, Potiskum.

“This institution is dedicated to the memory of my late mother, aiming to serve the educational needs of our community,” the letter noted.

Dr Gimba added that as part of the launch programme, the Abubakar Monja Lifeline Foundation for Late Journalists’ Families, which he founded to cater to the families of journalists who have passed away, will be empowering youths it trained in tailoring and plumbing.

“Additionally, I would like to invite you to inspect the ongoing construction of the Lami Fatima Babare Cancer Outreach and Clinic situated nearby, also in Unguwar Jaji.

“The clinic is an initiative of the Lami Fatima Babare Cervical Cancer Foundation, which was founded in 2020 – in memory of my late wife, Lami Fatima Babare – to provide medical services and referrals to cancer patients,” the letter noted.

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