•Gives
insight into death of Abacha, others
insight into death of Abacha, others
Detailed
insights on the death of two former heads of state, General Sani Abacha and
former President Musa Yar’Adua were given yesterday by a former medical
director of the Military Hospital, Lagos, Brigadier-General Otu Oviemo Ovadje
(rtd).
insights on the death of two former heads of state, General Sani Abacha and
former President Musa Yar’Adua were given yesterday by a former medical
director of the Military Hospital, Lagos, Brigadier-General Otu Oviemo Ovadje
(rtd).
Oviemo,
medical doctor and internationally acclaimed Nigeria Army inventor who spoke
yesterday in Lagos at a symposium also revealed how a former minister in the
former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s cabinet and a former Kwara State governor
died due to lack of necessary medical facilities in the country.
medical doctor and internationally acclaimed Nigeria Army inventor who spoke
yesterday in Lagos at a symposium also revealed how a former minister in the
former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s cabinet and a former Kwara State governor
died due to lack of necessary medical facilities in the country.
“The
late Gen Abacha while in office could not undertake medical tourism but
imported Filipino doctors to manage his condition. The Filipino’s made a
mockery of his management by pumping steroids into him.
late Gen Abacha while in office could not undertake medical tourism but
imported Filipino doctors to manage his condition. The Filipino’s made a
mockery of his management by pumping steroids into him.
“The
President became bloated and was thought by the un-informed as improving and
gaining weight. The President’s weight gain and puffiness was largely due to
fluid retention. I was privileged as a celebrated Nigerian doctor at the time
to advise but there were too many uninterested aides of the Head of State. It
became too late in the day. He snapped and died,” Oviemo stated.
President became bloated and was thought by the un-informed as improving and
gaining weight. The President’s weight gain and puffiness was largely due to
fluid retention. I was privileged as a celebrated Nigerian doctor at the time
to advise but there were too many uninterested aides of the Head of State. It
became too late in the day. He snapped and died,” Oviemo stated.
He
said it was unfortunate that the late leader could build a specialised centre
to cater for his ailment, though there are more and better trained Nigerians
who could have handled his case better, noting that it was profitable to bring
in foreign doctors to spite the home grown, and for what is in it for them.
said it was unfortunate that the late leader could build a specialised centre
to cater for his ailment, though there are more and better trained Nigerians
who could have handled his case better, noting that it was profitable to bring
in foreign doctors to spite the home grown, and for what is in it for them.
Oviemo
attributed the death of the late President Yar’Adua from brain damage caused by
severe asphyxia to ignorance and poor management.
attributed the death of the late President Yar’Adua from brain damage caused by
severe asphyxia to ignorance and poor management.
“The
presence of a sophisticated Air and Land Ambulance did not prevent him from
dying from his condition just as the hospital in Saudi Arabia with all its
gadgets could not reverse damage done to his brain during an acute
deterioration of his health.
presence of a sophisticated Air and Land Ambulance did not prevent him from
dying from his condition just as the hospital in Saudi Arabia with all its
gadgets could not reverse damage done to his brain during an acute
deterioration of his health.
“Imagine
what could have happened to our very meek, humble and generally loved president
when he suffered an acute relapse of his condition. He was rushed into the
ambulance and a face mask was turned on with oxygen flushing over his face.”
what could have happened to our very meek, humble and generally loved president
when he suffered an acute relapse of his condition. He was rushed into the
ambulance and a face mask was turned on with oxygen flushing over his face.”
Oviemo
stated that the late Head of State was “hypo-ventilating at the time and by the
time he got to Saudi Arabia, he had suffered irreversible brain death.
stated that the late Head of State was “hypo-ventilating at the time and by the
time he got to Saudi Arabia, he had suffered irreversible brain death.
“Because
Nigerians believe in the god of mammon and that money answers
all things, they expected a miracle from the Saudi hospital. The truth is that
if we had good centres back home in Nigeria, the late Head of State should have
been stabilised before been flown out. Our usual first impulse is to fly out
the sick and our experiences have shown that many patients die,” he said.
Nigerians believe in the god of mammon and that money answers
all things, they expected a miracle from the Saudi hospital. The truth is that
if we had good centres back home in Nigeria, the late Head of State should have
been stabilised before been flown out. Our usual first impulse is to fly out
the sick and our experiences have shown that many patients die,” he said.
He
also recalled the death of an unnamed former Military Governor of Kwara State
who had pneumonia, and he was called to attend. However, the said governor was
flown abroad without his own knowledge and the said former governor eventually
died.
also recalled the death of an unnamed former Military Governor of Kwara State
who had pneumonia, and he was called to attend. However, the said governor was
flown abroad without his own knowledge and the said former governor eventually
died.
According
to him, “I met the big man sweaty, restless and confused due to carbon dioxide
narcosis from his poor ventilation. I only adjusted his neck and positioned his
head to enable him exhale properly and his condition improved.
to him, “I met the big man sweaty, restless and confused due to carbon dioxide
narcosis from his poor ventilation. I only adjusted his neck and positioned his
head to enable him exhale properly and his condition improved.
“I
advised them not to fly him out immediately to allow him to be stable. I
volunteered to fly with him at my own expense to support him on board. By the
time I returned back from Lagos where I went for my passport, the man had been
flown out. Early in the morning, I got a call from one of my highly placed
mentors that “we lost him”.
advised them not to fly him out immediately to allow him to be stable. I
volunteered to fly with him at my own expense to support him on board. By the
time I returned back from Lagos where I went for my passport, the man had been
flown out. Early in the morning, I got a call from one of my highly placed
mentors that “we lost him”.
“I was
told that he got to Germany but he died before he could gain admission to a
hospital. The General’s condition could have been very well-managed in Nigeria
but for the pleasure of medical tourism and the absence of
identifiable/recognisable facilities and expertise. Money has robbed many
privileged and affluent Nigerians of sensibility. They never see with you or
take advice when money talks,” Oviemo recalled.
told that he got to Germany but he died before he could gain admission to a
hospital. The General’s condition could have been very well-managed in Nigeria
but for the pleasure of medical tourism and the absence of
identifiable/recognisable facilities and expertise. Money has robbed many
privileged and affluent Nigerians of sensibility. They never see with you or
take advice when money talks,” Oviemo recalled.
He
added that during the second term of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, a
former minister died from asthmatic attacks which could have been easily
treated if necessary medical facilities were available in the country.
added that during the second term of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, a
former minister died from asthmatic attacks which could have been easily
treated if necessary medical facilities were available in the country.
South
Africans, including their top government officials according to Oviemo, hardly
undertake medical tourism like their Nigerian counterparts, noting that former
President Nelson Mandela was still being treated for a heart condition in his
country when he could have been flown out for treatment.
Africans, including their top government officials according to Oviemo, hardly
undertake medical tourism like their Nigerian counterparts, noting that former
President Nelson Mandela was still being treated for a heart condition in his
country when he could have been flown out for treatment.
He
said many Nigerians cannot afford the price of management in centres that are
well-equipped, while some of the centres are entrusted to mediocre due to
nepotism or political consideration.
said many Nigerians cannot afford the price of management in centres that are
well-equipped, while some of the centres are entrusted to mediocre due to
nepotism or political consideration.
Oviemo
spoke at the symposium organised by Mcnext Intellectual Property in
collaboration with the Student Union Government of Yaba College of Technology,
Lagos on the topic Where are we in the Global Plan?
spoke at the symposium organised by Mcnext Intellectual Property in
collaboration with the Student Union Government of Yaba College of Technology,
Lagos on the topic Where are we in the Global Plan?
He
also lamented the country’s decline in Defence Technology and Agriculture.
also lamented the country’s decline in Defence Technology and Agriculture.
Source: The Nation
