by Rachel Ogbu

A former National Youth Service Corps member, Emmanuel Unogu, who had a ghastly accident while on his way to Oron where he served in Akwa Ibom State, has blamed the National Youth Service Corps for the loss of his right leg.

Unogu who had the accident on October 26, 2008 recounted the event how it happened.

“At Okossi, where I taught at the Comprehensive High School, there is no market. So it was customary for us all to go to Oron to get whatever we wanted.

“On the day of the accident, I was headed for the market at Oron when the motorcycle I was on, collided with another.”

Unogu was among several others in the accident. He broke his leg but was refused at a local private hospital because they were not fit to handle his case, Unogu reported had to settle for a traditional bone setter where he spent four days.

“My Zonal Inspector came to visit me while I was still with the local bone setter but no arrangement was made to move me elsewhere. I had to call my dad to take me away for proper medical attention because I was in great pains.”

According to reports, by the time Unogu’s father arrived, his son’s leg was already infected by gangrene and he was advised to amputate it.

His father took him to two different private hospitals in Owerri but the news was the same, the leg had to be taken off even at the Federal Medical Centre Owerri. Unogu finally agreed to the amputation.

“My right leg was amputated at the FMC. While I was recuperating, the state coordinator, Micheal Fagbemi, paid me a visit. The Zonal Inspector, Mr. Chukwu Kelechi, also came to visit; he gave me N3, 000 and brought toiletries. They assured me that my case would be brought to the NYSC authorities at Abuja. That was the last I saw of them,” Unogu said.

The Punch reports:

A copy of the medical report from the FMC revealed that Unogu was brought to the hospital with right leg gangrene.

It said, “The above named corps member is our patient who was presented to us on the 18th November 2008 with right leg gangrene, following mismanaged fracture of three weeks duration. He was evaluated, admitted and had amputation of the gangrenous limb.”

The report was signed by the Chief Consultant Orthopaedic/Traumatology Surgeon, Dr. Asodike V.C.

Despite being aware of Unogu’s situation, the Akwa Ibom state NYSC allegedly did nothing to assist Unogu with his bills. Over the last four years, attempts to get the NYSC to fund the purchase of a prosthetic leg for Unogu had met a brick wall.

The London Prosthetic Center sent an estimate in response to Unogu’s enquiries in 2008, on the cost of a prosthetic leg. It was estimated at £4,000 excluding transport.

Unogu’s lawyer, Mr. Benjamin Odeh, told PUNCH Metro that copies of the correspondence with the prosthetic hospital had been attached to several letters sent to the NYSC Abuja office concerning Unogu.

“I met with the Assistant Director, Welfare, NYSC in 2009; all we have received ever since are assurances that something would be done. Eventually, I was told Unogu’s file couldn’t be traced either at Akwa Ibom or Abuja.”

Spokesperson for the NYSC, Mrs. Bosede Aderibigbe said, “I don’t have facts, I am away from Abuja. The Director, Corps Welfare is in the best position to speak.”

However, the Director Corps Welfare, Mr. Emmanuel Obi, said, “I am not in Abuja and most of the field officers who have to furnished me with the details of that case are all on a nationwide inspection tour. They will not be back to the office till next week. Until then, I will not be able to comment on this issue.”