Federal government to provide medical items for Nnewi gas explosion victims

NIGERIA'S National Emergency Management Agency (Nema) has pledged that the federal government will provide medical items to the victims of the recent Nnewi gas explosion which took place on Christmas Eve in which over 100 are reported to have died.

 

Three days ago, an industrial gas tank exploded in Nnewi, killing people who had lined up to fill their cylinders for the holidays. Media reported death tolls as high as 100 but the local Red Cross team said it counted four bodies and another four injured, while the Anambra State police declined to comment on the conflicting number of casualties.

 

President Muhammadu Buhari said he was greatly shaken and shocked by such large-scale loss of human lives. He said his heart and prayers go out to these grieving families at this difficult and painful moment.

 

Nema's southeast coordinator James Eze, confirmed that the federal government would provide medical items to aid the speedy recovery of victims of the Nnewi gas explosion. He said this after visiting the victims at the National Orthopedic Hospital, Enugu and University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu State.

 

According to Mr Eze said that the government would further equip the Regional Burn Centre at the National Orthopedic Hospital in Enugu. He also commended the staff of both federal hospitals for their commitment to duty even in this festive season.

 

Mr Eze added: “The three victims in the Regional Burn Centre at the National Orthopedic Hospital, Enugu and the pregnant victim at the Intensive Care Unit of UNTH are in stable condition and responding to treatment. The agency would assist these health institutions with medical items to improve their services as well as help in the speedy recovery of these victims, especially those at the burn centre."

 

Anambra State health commissioner Dr Joe Akabuike, who also visited the victims, said Governor Willie Obiano sent him to reassure the hospitals that the state government would also pay the medical bills of the patients. Dr C U Nwadinigwe, the chief medical director of the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu, assured Nema and the Anambra government that the victims would be given the best medical care.