Map of Plateau State
By Marie-Therese Nanlong
Jos – Hospitals in Jos, Plateau State are in dire need of blood to attend to survivors of the Tuesday night attack at Yelwan Zangam village, who are on admission.
The survivors who have lost much blood as the result of bleeding and need to be infused are at a risk if this need is not met.
Apart from blood, some of them are on oxygen while many others need support to feed and take their drugs.
It would be recalled that the Red Cross Society Nigeria in the state had even gone on air to ask spirited members of the public approach hospitals and donate blood so that the victims could be infused.
Also, Rev. Sis. Jovita Egwu who is the Chief Medical Director, Our Lady of Apostles, OLA hospital who spoke with our correspondent on phone noted, “As of today (Thursday), the survivors we have here are up to 12, their immediate needs are blood, which is very scarce and even where we use to get, we cannot get. Some of them are on oxygen, we have that and we have taken care of it. There are other needs like what to eat and other things since most of them their houses were burnt.”
When asked about any intervention from the State government, she added the hospital is about writing to the State Ministry of Health to intervene saying, “For now, we have not seen any government official coming to their aid but this morning, we intend to write a letter to the State Commissioner for Health to assist.”
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However, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nimkong Lar told our correspondent, “So far, the government has given over N4 million or so since the incident that happened on the 14th.
“Government has been giving support to hospitals, they have given money to Bingham hospital, OLA and Plateau hospital so I am sure they will continue to support. Their bills will be taken care of, it is not Yelwa Zangam alone, the one before and others, there is going to be a continuation. Government is trying, there will be support.”
Meanwhile, the State Branch of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA has expressed sadness at what its termed, “the persistent and vicious acts of inhumanity currently ravaging the society and exerting a great toll on the physical and psychological wellbeing of the masses across the state.”
In a statement jointly signed by Dr. Innocent Emmanuel, its Chairman and Dr. Bapiga’an William, the Secretary, the body noted “the victims of these unwarranted attacks continue to populate hospitals’ emergency wards and mortuaries in the state.”
The statement reads in part, “… innocent, armed-less, accommodating and committed citizens of Plateau State have continued to live under the perennial unsavoury reality of perpetual terrorism manifesting as kidnappings for ransom, rape, maiming and killings as well as threats of total annihilation.
“On a daily basis, people are kidnapped from their houses and are living with the fear that same will happen the next day elsewhere. This worrisome and sad turn of events is severely bleeding the resources of the people and ultimately wrecking the economy of the state in general, resulting in further increase in the sufferings that have characterized the life of ordinary citizens who abinitio have mostly been living below, at or only slightly above the poverty line.”
“People face the brazen reality of being attacked, injured and or murdered in cold blood while their homes, farmlands and means of livelihoods are completely destroyed with no end in sight to these hostilities.
“In the face of these mindless and grave atrocities, the Nigerian Medical Association on the Plateau wishes to call upon Government and the security agencies to live up to the minimum expectation on them to protect lives and property which is the primary responsibility of the Government as well as the security agencies.”
They further called on religious and political leaders to “be mindful and sensitive of their comments especially in public domain which have the propensity to incite members of the public and enflame further, the embers of discord among the peace-loving citizens of Plateau State and the country at large. Leaders must act as leaders both in private and public circles.”
