For 3,000 children, it’s goodbye to worms, courtesy of Youth Corps member
By Gabriel Enogholase
Thursday, April 22, 2010


Benin – FOR Chimaobi Martins Kanu, a youth corps medical doctor posted to serve his father land at Ubiaja the administrative headquarters of Esan South-East Local Government Area of Edo State, his passion to reach the unreached medically and add value to humanity was fulfilled recently when he provided drugs for the de-worming of over 3000 children in Ubiaja and its environs. Children from seven of the 12 primary schools from the locality took part in the exercise.


[img]http://odili.net/news/source/2010/apr/22/vanguard/images/donateddrugs[1].jpg[/img]
Some of the drugs donated by Kanu






Speaking with Vanguard Metro shortly after the exercise, Dr. Kanu who studied Medicine at Abia State University and hails from Ovim, Isikwator Local Government Area of Abia State, revealed that his prayers before he was posted to the town of Ubiaja was not to serve his father land in big cities like Benin but in rural communities where he can touch people in the grassroots.

“From the onset, I never wanted to serve in big cities. My dream was to serve in the rural areas. My passion has been to reach the unreached medically and with the gospel of Jesus Christ. So, my advice to fellow corps members posted to rural communities is that they should never reject such postings because it is a privilege from God to do so,” he said.

He disclosed that his visit to the Nigeria Prisons Service in Ubiaja to provide free eye treatments to over 140 inmates was an eye opener to him on what most Nigerian inmates behind the prisons wall were going through. “I discovered that most of them were malnourished and were afflicted with all kinds of diseases. Those with eye problems complained that their confinement behind the prison bar for over six months has contributed to their bad eye sight. I also discovered that the inmates were medically unreached.

“From this experience, I decided that part of my project work is to reach out to children from five to 12 years in the locality and de-worm them. Even, during the de-worming exercise, children who were 12 years and above were there and were de-wormed once in their lives. Our health care delivery system in this part of the world seems to be concentrated on preventive cure only. Most of the diseases afflicting children would have been prevented if these children were de-wormed at least two or three times annually,” he said.

Asked how he was able to finance the purchase of the drugs, Dr. Kanu was full of appreciation to Juhel Pharmaceutical Company based in Enugu State for donating 1000 doses of the drugs while he purchased the remaining drugs with donations from friends and relatives just as he put the total cost of the de-worming exercise at about N200, 000. He, however, advised his fellow corps members planning to embark on projects that would be of benefit to humanity not to depend totally on local and state governments. They should source for funds elsewhere as posterity will speak for them, he said.

On how the objectives of the Federal Government primary healthcare system can be realised, he called on the government and donor agencies to use grassroots mobilisers to channel the drugs to rural communities, saying that the present system of dispensing the drugs precludes the rural communities from benefitting from the programme.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Secretary to the Esan South Local Government Council, Mr. Destiny Aimiebenomon who represented the chairman, Prince Andrew Ojiemenkele, expressed delight at the initiative of Dr. Kanu in the de-worming of the children, saying that the council provided him with local support to enable the children who will make use of the infrastructures provided by the government at the primary schools to be healthy and of sound mind.

http://odili.net/news/source/2010/apr/22/312.html

It is not the duty of the Edo State Government to provide free healthcare to all its citizens. And there's nothing stopping you from doing what this guy did.

Funny how you refer to him as a 'common corper'. Do i remind you that a youth corps member is by default an adult and a graduate? So what's 'common' about him?

texazzpete:

It is not the duty of the Edo State Government to provide free healthcare to all its citizens. And there's nothing stopping you from doing what this guy did.

Funny how you refer to him as a 'common corper'. Do i remind you that a youth corps member is by default an adult and a graduate? So what's 'common' about him?

Whose duty is it then?

Don't mind the bugger.

Ndipe:

Whose duty is it then?

You tell me. How many countries in the world provide free healthcare to all their citizens?

texazzpete:

It is not the duty of the Edo State Government to provide free healthcare to all its citizens. And there's nothing stopping you from doing what this guy did.

Funny how you refer to him as a 'common corper'. Do i remind you that a youth corps member is by default an adult and a graduate? So what's 'common' about him?

Have you read the constitution or you don't know how to read?

9jaganja:

Have you read the constitution or you don't know how to read?

I was reading 200+ page Novels when you were still quaffing mummy's milk. And your point is, ?

texazzpete:

I was reading 200+ page Novels when you were still quaffing mummy's milk. And your point is, ?

Easy bruv

this is wonderfu/commendable!-Dr Kanu a chieftaincy title awaits plus any of the lovely princesses for your perusal.

bibiking1:

Easy bruv

I'm trying, bro
The herd mentality on Nairaland is to blame EVERYTHING on the government. The youth corps member did an excellent deed (and he should be richly rewarded) but the 'Shame on the Govt' part is not neccessary IMHO.

The constitution requires the govt to provide free standard healthcare, electricity and roads to Nigerians besides, the may not pay for it but let them pave the way for a more affordable care.

this is wonderfu/commendable!-Dr Kanu a chieftaincy title awaits plus any of the lovely princesses for your perusal.

I seriously concur, may Dr. Kanu live longer than metusela.

Aloy+Emeka:

The constitution requires the govt to provide free standard healthcare, electricity and roads to Nigerians besides, the may not pay for it but let them pave the way for a more affordable care.

Oya, show me where it said all that in the constitution.
Please edit your post quickly so the whole world cannot see you claiming that the constitution guarantees all Nigerians free electricity.


Back on topic, kudos to Dr. Kanu. I wish we had a whole lot more people like him.

Shamefully Ubiaja is the home town of Senator Ugbesia representing Edo central,the god son of Chief Anenih.

texazzpete:

I was reading 200+ page Novels when you were still quaffing mummy's milk. And your point is, ?

texazzpete:

I was reading 200+ page Novels when you were still quaffing mummy's milk. And your point is, ?

I was writting 1000 page research work while your backside is still seeking admission dumb mofo. You'll qualify for a bimbo. And you are Nigerian? You don't even know your constitutional right. Illiterates like you are the reasons government get away with corruption and human right abuses. It is there in the constitution go and read it and stop displaying your ignorance here.

Did Ubiaja people tell the corper worms were their problem? Abeg E!

I just hope they are not using the kids as guinea pigs again. Trovan & all.

By the way, what do u mean by ''eradicate?''

9jaganja:

I was writting 1000 page research work while your backside is still seeking admission dumb mofo. You'll qualify for a bimbo. And you are Nigerian? You don't even know your constitutional right. Illiterates like you are the reasons government get away with corruption and human right abuses. It is there in the constitution go and read it and stop displaying your ignorance here.

Don't be such a whiny child.
Now, run along, will you? Adults are discussing important things here.

Kudos to the corper for doing good. we dont always have to wait for the Govt. America has come this far based on people's personal sweat, volunteer work and individual passion in addition to Govt efforts.

Dimka 76:

Did Ubiaja people tell the corper worms were their problem? Abeg E!

So what's their major problem?. Do you know why worms are prevalent there in the first place? 

texazzpete:

Don't be such a whiny child.
Now, run along, will you? Adults are discussing important things here.

Please!! You talk about games you haven't played now you talk about constitution you haven't read. What else are you going to talk about? girls you don't have a chance with, cars you will never buy what else. Retardo!! Go away!!!

why is it a shame on the government for a nigerian to cure his fellow man?
what the hell? you people are retarded.

9jaganja:

Please!! You talk about games you haven't played now you talk about constitution you haven't read. What else are you going to talk about? girls you don't have a chance with, cars you will never buy what else. Retardo!! Go away!!!

It's called 'education', you dunce.
Stop taking the coward's way out. Provide the section of the Nigerian constitution where it says the Government is mandated to provide free healthcare to all.
This is why i consider you a child - you cannot even see that the onus is upon you to provide the proof.

9jaganja:

girls you don't have a chance with

I'm married, sorry. When you grow up, you'll probably marry too. Now run along and stop insulting your betters.

Some of you guyz never seems to amaze me. You argue on unnessesary issues. Why don't you just contribute and lets learn from it. Can someone tell me why the hostility against each other. My question is. IS NAIRALAND A WAR ZONE OR FOR FRUSTRATED PEOPLE?

olybaby50:

Some of you guyz never seems to amaze me. You argue on unnessesary issues. Why don't you just contribute and lets learn from it. Can someone tell me why the hostility against each other. My question is. IS NAIRALAND A WAR ZONE OR FOR FRUSTRATED PEOPLE?

It looks like it is.

Great initiative by the doctor.

But honestly, i don't think it will achieve much.

The children who currently have worms will be cured, but when they go back to their polluted source of water, when they continue with unhygienic ways, poor disposal of sewage, they will become reinfected. And all the money used to procure the drugs will have gone to waste.

Diseases need to be tackled at their source. We need people with the doctor's heart to be in positions where policies regarding sanitation and clean water can be implemented.

@op
What is the connection between your story and last part of  the title of your thread which is a blanket condemnation of government officials.
Is it the duty of Edo State Government to come up with new drugs or to provide free health care to all residents? I am not aware that there is such a system in place.

[/quote][quote author=Aloy+Emeka link=topic=435402.msg5940279#msg5940279 date=1272017643]
The constitution requires the govt to provide free standard healthcare, electricity and roads to Nigerians besides,

The Nigerian constitution in fact makes no such provision. Perhaps you are referring to the constitution of a communist country.

texazzpete:

It is not the duty of the Edo State Government to provide free healthcare to all its citizens. And there's nothing stopping you from doing what this guy did.

Funny how you refer to him as a 'common corper'. Do i remind you that a youth corps member is by default an adult and a graduate? So what's 'common' about him?

This must be the most idiotic, most foolish reply ever made on Nairaland. Infinite stupidity in all its ugliness!

Dimka 76:

Did Ubiaja people tell the corper worms were their problem? Abeg E!

Oh God! Another rambling idiot with the brain of a wasp.

God in heaven, why did you make so many Nigerians so so so annoyingly stupid? Why God?

Cohomology:

Oh God! Another rambling idiot with the brain of a wasp.

God in heaven, why did you make so many Nigerians so so so annoyingly silly? Why God?

LMBAO