THE South-East geo-political zone
(Igboland) was thrown into confusion last Wednesday after claims on social
media went viral that some soldiers entered some primary and secondary schools
and were forcefully injecting pupils and students with poisonous substances
allegedly causing monkey pox.
Some parents restricted from taking their children
home in Enugu (left) and students scared of immunization rushing home as the
panic over Monkey pox ‘vaccine’ spread in S-East, yesterday. No fewer than two
states, especially in the neighbouring South-South, Bayelsa and Rivers, have
recorded cases of the ailment.
As soon as the information
circulated, parents and guardians started rushing to schools to pressurize the
authorities to allow them take away their children. From Imo to Anambra, Abia,
Ebonyi and Enugu states, the story was the same. Though some school heads tried
to persuade the parents to allow the students to remain in class, they met
stiff opposition from the parents who insisted they must go home with their
wards.
Hours later, virtually all schools in the zone were shut and the rumour
continued to spread that the Army was using a medical exercise to inject poison
into the people to depopulate the South-East.
Meanwhile, the exercise did not
involve injection and the Army medical team, comprising ophthalmologists,
dentists, general medical practitioners, pharmacists, medical laboratory
scientists and physiotherapists, was there only to carry out an activity it had
been carrying out annually for some years now. And contrary to the information
that was spread, the exercise took place in a church, far from the nearest
primary school in the area.
The venue of the exercise was St. Michael’s
Catholic Church, Amakwa, Ozubulu in Ekwusigo local government area of Anambra
State. Indeed, there was an elaborate arrangement for the medical outreach as
canopies were mounted and plastic seats hired for those expected to attend.
Reverend Father Jude Chetanna Chukwuneke, from Egbema, Ozubulu, who said he
witnessed the medical exercise before the confusion set in, said there was
nothing wrong with what the Army did as they were only there to help the people
medically. Chukwuneke, who works at the College of Medical Sciences, Nnewi
Campus of Nnamdi Azikiwe University as a Chaplain said:
“I have a first-hand
information because I visited the venue of the medical outreach. There was a
medical outreach of 62 medical professionals and personnel from 82 Division,
Enugu at St Michael’s Catholic Church field, Amakwa Ozubulu.
The team had five
doctors. “There was proper dissemination of information and authorization from
the appropriate authorities. Firstly, the Administrator of Ekwusigo local
government area was aware of the exercise. The Obi of Ozubulu invited his
council and they approved it. The Obi also dispatched information to all the
churches in Ozubulu and they said it was announced in the churches (all
denominations). I confirmed for two Catholic parishes. People from these
parishes confirmed it in their numbers.
“The medical team did not go to any
school; they settled at St. Michael’s Catholic Church field, Amakwa, Ozubulu.
Let me also say that it was a medical outreach for the entire town. “Apart from
the medical professionals, there was a confectionery unit which had food and
drinks for those in attendance. More than 10 big sized canopy and seats were
set on the field.
“There was no taking down of patients’ names; they treated
without noting anyone’s identity. “They were only taking vital signs. The
dentistry unit had facilities for minor surgeries, while the ophthalmology unit
was doing free eye tests and giving free glasses. “They did not go any school
and they did not force any person to come for the treatment.
Some electronic
media houses were there to cover the exercise. They said that the reason
Ozubulu was chosen as one of the places for the exercise was to rewrite the bad
news of the recent past after some gunmen stormed a church and killed
worshippers.
‘Misconception’
Anambra State
government also spoke on the incident, through the Secretary to the State
Government, SSG, Professor Solo Chukwulobelu, directing the suspension of the
exercise so that the people would be made to understand that it was part of
Army’s social responsibility to members of the public.
He said: “Strong
apprehension among the populace has followed the exercise leading to withdrawal
of students from schools by parents, misconception of the actual motive behind
the exercise by stakeholders, community leaders and a general reservation by
the public for whom the outreach is intended.
“To this end and to ensure no
further escalation of the situation, His Excellency the Governor, Chief Willie
Obiano has contacted the Army Authorities and advised for immediate stoppage of
the medical outreach until wide sensitization is conducted to reassure people
of its intentions and benefits.
The exercise has therefore been put on hold.
“Parents and guardians are strongly advised to stop withdrawing their wards
from schools as the situation has been handled. All schools within the State
will remain open as there is no cause for alarm! Community leaders, “Presidents
General and all stakeholders are reassured of the commitment of the Governor
and the State Government to the wellbeing of Ndi Anambra. The State Government
also strongly condemns observed rhetoric on social media completely
misrepresenting the situation with insinuations of spread of diseases and death
of students in schools arising from the exercise.
The state categorically
refutes these rhetorics and confirms that there is no death of any student
anywhere in the state. Mischief makers are warned to desist from spreading
falsehood. Anambra remains calm and peaceful!” Following the assurance from the
state government, normalcy returned the following day as schools resumed
without hitches in all parts of the state. But despite the assurances, some
pessimists still believed there was more to the medical outreach by the Army
than met the eye.
To them, there was no justifiable reason for the military to
begin such an exercise while the brouhaha over the Operation Python Dance 11
was still going on.
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