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Tag: dignity

  • ‘How languages can promote country’s dignity

    Nigerians have been urged to promote the country’s dignity through languages and cultural diversity.

    The head of Department of Foreign Languages and Literary Studies of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Prof Matthew Iwuchukwu, gave the admonition at an event tagged “alumni homecoming” and remembrance held for the late Prof Edith Ihekweazu – one time lecturer at the department.

    The event with the theme: The impact of languages and cultural diversity in the age of globalisation, took place at Princess Alexandra Hall.

    Declaring the event open, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academics, Prof James Ogbonna, who spoke on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Benjamin Ozumba, applauded the department on achievements recorded since inception, urging members of staff to prioritise research and activities that will contribute to creating best practice in Foreign Languages discipline.

    Prof Iwuckwu highlighted the department’s achievements under his tenure, saying the department had trained manpower for the country’s internal and external affairs relations agencies and ministry.

    He noted that the full accreditation achieved by the department in 2016 was a key success for the school, adding that it was the first time the school got accredited for three foreign languages of French, German and Russian.

    Prof Raufu Adebisi, Director of French Language Village in Badagry, Lagos State, praised the department for the quality of graduate produced, describing it as “good achievement”.

    He said: “Establishing contacts with the former students across the globe is best way to engage the alumni in the school development. Wherever they are, if your school can reach you to contribute to development, it is good. I believe this is what the Department of Foreign Languages and Literary Studies in UNN is trying to achieve.”

    Prof Adebisi implored the department to sustain the tempo of producing high calibre graduates who will have national and international relevance.

    In her closing remarks, the local organising committee chairperson, Dr Ngozi Ogbodo, appealed to the alumni to put their alma mater in of their minds in order to achieve the best for the department.

  • ‘ACJA has restored dignity to justice system’

    Prof Yemi Akinseye-George (SAN) was one of those who conceived and pursued the passage of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 into law. In this interview with Legal Editor JOHN AUSTIN UNACHUKWU, he shares his views on the impact of the Act, its challenges and the way forward.

    You were very involved in the conception and passage of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015. Would you say that the Act has achieved it objectives in criminal justice administration in the country today?

    Thanks for your kind words and appreciation of my role in coordinating the various processes which led to the passage of the ACJA at the Federal level. The Act will be three years old on 14 May, 2018. It has restored agility and dignity to the Nigerian criminal justice system. The Supreme Court has endorsed the Act in the case of Saraki v. FRN where the Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Walter Nkanu Onnoghen (JSC) (as then was) held that the ACJA applies to the Code of Conduct Tribunal and that it has replaced the old criminal procedure laws. Similarly, with the endorsement by the Supreme Court of the constitutionality of the ACJA prohibition of Stay of Proceedings in Criminal trials, the Act has become the single most revolutionary reform in criminal procedure law of the country since Independence.

    Why do you say this?

    It has compelled the introduction of specialised courts to handle high profile corruption cases and the issuance of new guidelines and practice directions for speedy trial on day to day basis. The ACJA has brought about tremendous changes in the criminal justice system.

    Similarly, the ACJA has brought about the establishment of the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee (ACJMC) at the Federal level. The ACJA has been domesticated in about 14 states of the Federation.

    Can we say that the Act has realized its objectives?

    Well, the Act has not yet fully realized its objectives of speedy trial. The necessary resources needed to ensure proper implementation of the ACJA have not been provided by the government. Several of its laudable innovative provisions have not been given effect. Investigators and prosecutors need to strengthened and challenged to give full effect to the Act. Relevant data mandated by the Act are not yet being collated. So there is still a large room for improvement.

    The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) led by Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN) is pushing for the adoption and implementation of the Act in all the States of the Federation including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). What is your appraisal of these efforts and how do we improve same?

    The NBA president, A.B Mahmud is a social reformer and gentleman. He and the Secretary, Aare Olagunju and other members of the NBA Executive have done a lot to advance the domestication of the ACJA all over the country. The collaboration between the NBA and the MacArthur Foundation is highly commendable. Mr Mahmoud is a law reformer and a progressive (SAN) with broad outlook. He has introduced far-reaching reforms. However, the NBA and the body of SANs and indeed all lawyers must do more to protect the judiciary. The welfare of judges must be looked into urgently.

    Why do you say so?

    Several of them have been on the same salary scale for decades. New judges are paid the same salary as the senior judges. That’s highly demoralising. The NBA should set up a strong committee to advocate and push for significant improvement in the welfare of judges. The politicians will not do it because they fear a strong, independent and incorruptible judiciary which cannot be easily compromised. The ACJA has now been domesticated in about 14 states. Several other states are in the process of passing the law. We salute the NBA President and his able team for this remarkable achievement.

    How best can ACJA be fast-tracked to actualise its objectives?

    There is need to strengthen and monitor the work of investigators and prosecutors.  They should only take water tight cases with solid evidence and witnesses to court for prosecution. There should be proper coordination between the Office of the AG of the Federation and the the prosecutorial agencies. Then a solid witness support and protection system should be put in place especially in regard to High Profile Cases. Electronic recording of proceedings should be introduced urgently beginning with the specialized courts such that the practice of starting part-heard Cases de novo should cease. The new judges can watch the previous proceedings and continue from there. Judges too should be well motivated. Their salary should be increased and their working conditions transformed. Ten per cent of funds and assets recovered should be channelled toward improving the justice system. A sound justice system will strengthen the economy and the political system.

    How can this feat be achieved?

    President Muhammadu Buhari should set up a high powered national committee under the Vice President and give the committee the mandate and resources to turn around the Justice sector. The Vice President is the foremost justice reformer in the country. The country should take advantage of his being in government to turn around the sector. The Attorney-General of the Federation must be part of the Presidential Committee to turn around the justice sector.

  • Labour demands dignity for workers

    Labour demands dignity for workers

    •Union condemns competence test in public schools

    Organised labour has decried what it described as the “gross violation of workers’ dignity”, through the controversial “competence test” for workers and teachers, particularly in public schools.

    Vice President of Industrial Global Union, Issa Aremu, at the 2017 national conference of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) in Kaduna, called on state governors to “dignify their respective workforce through capacity building, understanding and sympathy, as demanded by the principles of decent work by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).”

    Aremu, who is also an executive of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the General-Secretary of Textile Workers’ Union, noted that the 1999 Constitution guaranteed basic human and workers’ rights.

    He lamented that Nigerians’ constitutional right was being implemented more in the breach than compliance, citing non-payment and delayed payment of what he called, “miserable pay” by some state governors and private employers.

    He said it was unacceptable and counter-productive dramatising and criminalising workers’ skill gap when skills’ upgrading and upliftment were required.

    The labour leader observed that Section 34(1) of 1999 Constitution holds that every individual, including working men and women, is entitled to have respect for the dignity of his/her person, adding that exhibiting so-called failures of teachers or any workers during competence test violateds their rights to privacy and dignity.

    “It is debatable if any of the state governors can truly pass competence/governance tests by Nigerians, but we all appreciate their weaknesses, we even re-elect some of them, only for them to degrade the workforce through punitive examinations not necessarily capacity building for improvement and promotion,” the labour leader said.

    Aremu said Nigeria risks perpetual underdevelopment, if it refuses to treat its workforce better through training and re-training, better pay, work schedule and enforced discipline, adding that more advanced nations, that regard labour as the most valued factor of production, such as China and India, are fast developing, while Nigeria, which he alleged derides labour, lags behind.

    The labour leader praised President Muhammadu Buhari for tasking some recalcitrant governors on non-payment of salaries, adding that workers rights to living wage are human rights.

    Also commending the activities of the president of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Malachy Ugwummadu, the labour leader described CDHR as “a strong African institution made of strong men and women who, at the risks of persecution by the military and civilian dictators”, stood to defend, sustain and promote fundamental human rights of all Africans as guaranteed in the Nigerian Constitution, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights.

    Aremu also called on legislators to strengthen civil society, adding that only vibrant civil society groups could check the political class.

  • Human trafficking strips youth of dignity, says Elumelu

    Human trafficking strips youth of dignity, says Elumelu

    Founder, Tony Elumelu Foundation Mr. Tony Elumelu has hailed Director-General of Nigeria’s National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) Julie Okah-Donli for her accomplishments at the agency. Elumelu, who spoke when the foundation hosted the NAPTIP Director-General, pledged his group’s commitment to the war against human trafficking.

    Saying human trafficking strips youth of dignity, he: “We support what you are doing and we stand behind you. The Tony Elumelu Foundation believes in the empowerment of our youths and as we all know, they cannot be empowered if they are not free.”

    “We stand with you in eradicating human trafficking in Nigeria and will engage extensively with you as you work to restore dignity to mankind, protect the dignity of our youth and ensure no one can take undue advantage of them.”

    He made an appeal to the government to increase budgetary funding to the cash-strapped agency.

    “I call on the Federal Government to make more resources available to support you. As private companies, we pay taxes to the Federal Government and we want to see a more judicious use of the taxes paid.”

    Elumelu urged other private sector players to join the agency to fight human trafficking, assuring them of the credibility and competency of NAPTIP and its DG whom he could vouch for. Elumelu hailed Okah-Donli for her accomplishments at the agency, including the conviction of over 325 persons, and successful rehabilitation of more than 12,000 victims. He added that she was a former staff of leading pan-African bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA).

    “She is an alumna of the United Bank for America (UBA), Africa’s global bank, thus we are not surprised at what she has become. We predicted that she will attain such great heights because of the passion she has always had for human trafficking.”

    Mrs. Okah-Donli said UNESCO ranks human trafficking as the third most lucrative criminal enterprise in Nigeria.

    Thus, she said agencies like NAPTIP needed good laws, sustained funding and equally important, critical support from local and global stakeholders to execute the urgent war against human trafficking.

    Mrs. Okah-Donli said: “We can no longer wait for government alone to fight this war. Many victims are on standby, anxious to be fully reintegrated into society. At the agency, we are desperate for assistance to empower and rehabilitate these millions of victims in need. Thus, we are identifying and approaching organisations like the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) for support.”

  • Upholding the dignity of man

    Upholding the dignity of man

    The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) has held a week-long activities to mark its 56th Founder’s Day. INYA-AGHA EGWU, JAMES OJO and ORJI SYLVESTER (400-Level Mass Communication) report.

    It was Princess Alexandra of Kent who laid the foundation of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) in October, 1960. Yearly, staff, students and the alumni gather at the spot where the foundation was laid to celebrate and rededicate themselves to the visions of the founding fathers, one of whom was the first Nigeria’s President, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe.

    Apart from bringing back memories of the university’s formative years, the event known as “Founders’ Day”, provides a platform for the university administration to update the alumni on the developments and challenges of their alma mater.

    At this year’s Founders’ Day, there was a touch of innovation in the activities marking it. For one week, the campus bubbled with activities, including exhibition, lectures and a debate where students won prizes.

    The event featured a lecture with the theme: Science, technology and innovation: The way forward. It was delivered by Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu.

    Onu observed that the neglect of science, technology and innovation in previous decades inflicted unprecedented harm on the country’s development, noting that the nation had been trailing behind less-endowed countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

    He said: “We must aim to use science and technology to create wealth and reduce poverty. We must deploy it towards eliminating abject poverty, build an inclusive, competitive,  sustainable and diversified economy.”

    Chief Judge of Anambra State Justice Peter Umeadi delivered a paper at the Dignity of Man Lecture held during Founders’ Day.

    Justice Umeadi, who spoke on Rule of Law as the foundation of any nation, called for the domestication of Child Rights Acts by states, saying the laws must reflect the changing times and development in the country. He advised members of states’ legislatures to prioritise the passage of the law to eliminate discrimination against children and minors.

    He said: “It should always be borne in mind that the good of the people and strengthening of the foundation of the nation ought to be the purpose of legislation, which is then enforced by the ordinary courts.”

    The Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Emmanuel Ojukwu, noted that corruption was the major impediment to the observance of the rule of law, which, according to him,  was often recited in theory but absent in practice.

    In his address, the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Benjamin Ozumba, said the university under his watch had been making giant strides in line with the vision of the founding fathers.

    He outlined part of the achievements of his administration in the last two years to include improved global ranking of the school by Webometrics, which placed the UNN first in the country and among the best in Africa. He also said the university struck collaborations with foreign varsities to expose staff and students to international best practices.

    He said: “Despite economic challenges in the country, we are resilient and resolute in giving the UNN a facelift. Such was the spirit of our founding fathers.”

    At an exhibition held at Nnamdi Azikiwe Library, departments and faculties showcased their inventions and research achievements. On display included solar water heater with fibre-reinforced plastic storage tank, incinerator for converting solid waste into energy for domestic hot water generation, Biomass cooking stoves, thermo-syphon water heater, paintings, fabrications and textile materials.

    The Princess Alexandra Auditorium (PAA) was filled to be brim for the debate tagged: Dignity of Man.

    The debaters, who were students, stood before a panel of 10 judges. They took turn to flaunt their literary prowess and push their logics to either support or oppose the topic of the debate: This house regrets the rise of million-dollar babies.

    No sooner had the VC declared the event open than the debaters started to argue their points.

    About 83 jostled to participate in the debate, but the number was pruned to four teams of eight students each.

    At the end of the debate, the duo of Sunday Orji, a 400-Level Mass Communication student, and Henry Uwakwe, a 400-Level Veterinary Medicine student, won the debate.

    The VC’s wife, Mrs Chinelo Ozumba, presented all the eight finalists with new Android smartphones, while other participants were given certificates of participation.

    The Department of Music staged a night of musical concert. It played various symphonies— from western dance, African chorus to instrumental. The concert was followed by a drama by the Department of Theatre Studies entitled: Iyi Uwa.

    The drama captured the story of Ogbanje, a myth in Igbo folklore where a girl dies and reincarnates repeatedly until the umbilical cord linking her with the spirits is severed by a ritual called Iyi Uwa.

    The week-long event ended with a thanksgiving at the Chapel of Redemption.

  • Medico-Legal: clinicians owe a duty to treat you well and with dignity (4)

    Duty of Care: All clinicians (doctors and nurses and others) owe their clients a duty of care to wit: to diligently provide a care that is appropriate, timely and safe for their patients. Failing to do so is a breach of the law and such breach may amount to negligence. If it leads to harm, such negligence may lead to criminal prosecution by the state.

    The Right of Patients: Apart from the code of conduct that regulates the respective professionals which also provides safeguards for patients, consumers of healthcare service are also protected under the National Health Care Act of 2014. I have copied verbatim such, rights and safeguards under sections 23-28 of the National Healthcare Act 2014. Let us call these provisions our own Nigerian “ Patients’ Bill of Rights.”

    1. (1) Every health care provider shall give a user relevant information pertaining to his state of health and necessary treatment relating thereto including:-

    (a) The user’s health status except in circumstances where there is substantial evidence that the disclosure of the users health status would be contrary to the best interests of the user;

    (b) The range of diagnostic procedures and treatment options generally available to the user; (c) the benefits, risks, costs and consequences generally associated with each option; and (d) the user’s right to refuse health services and explain the implications, risks, obligations of such refusal.

    (2) The health care provider concerned shall, where possible, inform the user in a language that the user understands and in a manner which takes into account the user’s level of literacy.

    1. The Federal Ministry, every State Ministry of Health, every local government Health Authority and every private health care provider shall ensure that appropriate, adequate and comprehensive information is disseminated and displayed at facility level on the health services for which they are responsible, which shall include-

    (a) the types of health services available;

    (b) the organisation of health services;

    (c) operating schedules and timetables of visits;

    (d) procedures for laying complaints; and

    (e) the rights and duties of users and health care providers.

    1. Subject to applicable archiving legislation, the person in charge of a health establishment shall ensure that a health record containing such information as may be prescribed is created and available at that health establishment for every user of health services.
    2. (1) All information concerning a user, including information relating to his or her health status, treatment or stay in a health establishment is confidential.

    Confidentiality

    (2) Subject to Section 27, no person may disclose any information contemplated in subsection (1) unless-

    (a) the user consents to that disclosure in writing;

    (b) a court order or any law requires that disclosure; or

    (i) in the case of a minor with the request of a parent or guardian; and (ii) in the case of a person who is otherwise unable to grant consent upon the request of a guardian or representative.

    (c) non-disclosure of the information represents a serious threat to public health.

    1. A health worker or any health care provider that has access to the health records of a user. may disclose such personal information to any other person, health care provider or health establishment as is necessary for any legitimate purpose within the ordinary course and scope of his or her duties where such access or disclosure is in the interest of the user.

    (1) A health care provider may examine a user’s health records for the purposes of: (a) treatment with the authorisation of the user; and

    (b) Study, teaching or research with the authorisation of the user, head of the health establishment concerned and the relevant health research ethics committee.

    (2) If the study, teaching or research under subsection (l)(b) of this section reflects or obtains no information as to the identity of the user concerned, it is not necessary to obtain the authorisations contemplated in that subsection.

    The Rights of Care Providers and Clinicians: Please be aware also that, doctors and nurses are professionals and are human. As a member of society, healthcare institutions and the people working their also have rights and privileges. They are also protected, under the law and their own code of conducts.

    Clinical Negligence: A breach of duty in duty of care, breach of confidentiality, assaults, battery, clinical malpractice are all forms of dereliction of duty by the clinician. These failings can be remedied via civil legal process or as the case may be via the criminal justice system notwithstanding the remedy that may be provided by the employer of the doctor and the respective regulatory authorities. However, the ball is in the court of the patients. In Nigeria, such patients may be too poor or ignorant or both to take appropriate action to correct a clinical injury.

    Summary: A quality healthcare system is an interaction, checks and balances between providers and consumers. Breaches of the law by clinicians can be reported to their respective regulators and the state justice system in both criminal and civil restitution courts. On the other hand, doctors, physiotherapists, pharmacists and nurses also have rights to self defence, to correct erring patients and to also uphold the dignity of their respective professions while aspiring to provide the very best of care. That said, although apparently unknown to the consumers, the most important regulator of clinicians remain the patients or consumer of their clinical services. Thus, medico-legal pursuit is an integral part of the healthcare system albeit not a persecutor of care providers.

  • Medico-Legal: Clinicians owe duty to treat you well and with dignity (3)

    Differences between Criminal Law and Civil Law Criminal Law: In criminal law, the action of the government is represented and conducted by the Ministry of Justice of either the federal or state government. If a crime is committed by an individual, say unintentional death in the hands of a clinician, the government can step in to determine if prosecution is necessary.

    The agency of the Ministry (the Police) would have investigated the case and pass the file to the prosecutor in the ministry. The decision on persecution or court appearance rests with the prosecutor (the government). Such criminal case is between the alleged criminal and the government (the state).

    Criminal cases are about making a deterrent to others not to commit such crime and a punishment to current alleged criminal for his bad behaviour. The punishment varies from community service, deferred imprisonment, house arrest, imprisonment or whatever punishment the court sees fit.

    Civil Law: In civil claim under civil law, the battle is between two individuals either biological individuals or businesses. The government have no role to play but the claim can itself be against any level of the government or their agencies and aggrieved members of the society. Very often, civil claim is about making restitution. The aim of restitution is to place the victim in the position that he or she would have been had the alleged injury never occurred. Court can order under civil claims such restitutions as apologies and monetary rewards or both. The court can order anything it sees fit and even the court can go as far as recommending prosecution of the participants.

    In some situations, some cases can both be in the remit of criminal and civil laws. We shall see such a case under clinical negligence.

    Clarification of Terms Clinic: Often operating as an out-patient as distinguished from a hospital, a clinic is a place where medical treatment is given to patients.

    Clinician: Unlike someone who does laboratory or research work, a clinician is a qualified health professional, such as a physician, psychologist, or nurse, who is directly involved in patient care.

    Clinical Practice: Clinical Practice is relating to or based on place and or work done with real patients: It relates to the medical treatment that is given to patients in hospitals, clinics and other health centres.

    Hospital: Hospital is an extension of a clinic but with admission facilities for patients (in-patients unlike out patients).

    Patient/Client/Service User: Is a person receiving or a person who is registered to receive medical or clinical treatment.

    Laboratory and Researchers: Are personnel that works in laboratory and very often do not come in direct contact with or participate in direct management of the patient.

    Law of Assault in Nigeria: Section 252 of Criminal Code: “A person who strikes, touches, or moves, or otherwise applies force of any kind to, the person of another, either directly or indirectly, without his consent, or with his consent, if the consent is obtained by fraud, or who by any bodily act or gesture attempts or threatens to apply force of any kind to the person of another  without his consent, in such circumstances that the person making the attempt or threat has actually or apparently a present ability to effect his purpose, is said to assault that other person, and the act is called an assault.”

    Assault: The threat or the use of force on another that causes that person to have a reasonable apprehension of imminent harmful or offensive contact. The act of putting another person in reasonable fear or apprehension of an immediate battery by means amounting to an attempt or threat to commit a battery.

    The act of the defendant must have been such that a reasonable man might fear that violence was about to be applied.

    An assault is unlawful, and constitutes an offence unless it is authorised or justified or excused by law.

    The application of force by one person to the person of another may be unlawful, although it is done with the consent of that other person.

    Salient Features of Clinician-Patient Relationships: I will now discuss some crucial features that all patients should expect from their carer. These features are in fact enshrined in the law that regulates the clinicians. Such regulatory law is called the code of conducts.

    Confidentiality: Clinicians (doctors, nurses and so forth) are duty bound to keep secret and private all information that the patient had disclosed to the clinician. Except as may be ordered in and by court of law, such information must not be passed to anyone that is not handling or be part of the caring for the patient.

    Consent: Agreement of the care receiver must be sought in all procedures and operations that the patient may engage in. Minors who are between 13-16years may consent for themselves if they understand the procedures and operations in question. Otherwise, guardians and parents are allowed to provide consents.

    Failure to obtain consent by a clinician before undertaking a procedure and surgery is deemed an assault.

  • Medico-Legal: Clinicians owe duty to treat you well and with dignity (2)

    The Business of Healthcare: Meanwhile, members of the Healthcare Sector as in any other industrialsector within the larger economy are allowed to operate like any other business. This operation can be as asole trader, partnership or as an incorporated body.

    They, physicians/clinicians are also allowed to partnerwith others for the orderly and beneficial conduct of their respective and businesses in synergy. Thus,healthcare providers and healthcare professionals operating as a business must also conform to the Company and Allied Matters Act that regulates registered businesses.

    Trade Associations: Further, individuals and businesses are allowed under the constitution to form associations or trade associations. This constitutional empowerment is the basis of such associations such as Pharmaceutical Association of Nigeria (PSN) and Nigeria Medical Association (NMA).

    Mistakes should not be made and trade or professional associations should not be confused with regulatory authorities which I have mentioned earlier. While regulatory authorities regulate the training, education and practice of each profession, trade associations look after the welfare of their members. Trade associations are pressure groups that can influence decision making at all government levels, and they influence legal enactment that may affect members of the profession, industrial sector, general economyand the entire nation. However, as the law may permit, the professional trade associations such as NMAmay exert influences on MDCN. In fact, NMA is a member of MDCN. Similar arrangement occurs in other healthcare units. In Nigeria, MDCN is an executive agency under the Ministry of Health. This means, the federal government still largely controls the various professionals through its executive agency though subject to the Parliamentary (National Assembly) actions.

    This explanation is important so that we can distinguish the respective roles of the government, regulatory bodies and trade associations as well as individual professionals.

    The Courts: One area that I have not mentioned is the position of the court. Each professional body has its own investigative and disciplinary body. This body hears complaints from professional members and members of the public in respect of members of the profession and their practice. Citing the MDCN as an example, the Disciplinary Tribunal (DT) of the MDCN has the equivalent status of a High Court.

    Thus, the decision of the DT can be appealed to the Appellate Court and then to the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

    From the foregoing, it can be seen even at this stage, that medicolegal or clinical negligence is the action of individual clinician (pharmacist, laboratory technologist, medical doctor, dentist, nutritionist, physiotherapist and a nurse) measured against the general laws, sectorial law, and regulatory law and even against the action of their respective trade associations.

    Moral, Cultural and Religious Codes: In particular in Nigeria and in general, in African context as in different regions of the world, religion and cultures operate through their respective moral codes to influence clinical decisions. Such influences may have direct effect on medicolegal matters. Let us cite an example. It’s an established religious fact that a deceased Islamic patient, say 34-year old pregnant woman, must be buried as soon as possible often within 24 hours of death. Let us now assume that a medical doctor had mismanaged the said deceased patient. Giving the age of the patient and the pregnancy, it’s obvious that the deceased must be subject to coroner analysis which will entail post-mortem study. Such postmortem study may take a long time to complete than is allowed for by religious codes. The work of a coroner and the pathologist as well as medicolegal personnel are clearly made impossible here. Clearly, any claim against the offending clinician is likely to fail or at best be speculative.

    Similarly, let us assume a young king or prominent politician who is also a chief, was poisoned or given an overdose.

    Yet, if the codes of disposing the king’s body dictate that he must not be dissected or interfered with upon death, then it’s clearly impossible to find the truth of the true cause of death.

  • Hope, dignity for people living with leprosy

    Hope, dignity for people living with leprosy

    In the yesteryear, people living with leprosy were regarded as unclean and therefore discriminated against, even by their kith and kin. However, hope seems to rise for these people who the late dramatist Ola Rotimi referred to as living dead in his book Hope of the Living Dead. LUCAS AJANAKU writes that two non-governmental organisations (NGOs); Junior Chamber International (JCI) and NIPPON Foundation are collaborating to bring hope, dignity to lepers 

    From the Biblical times, people living with leprosy were regarded as unclean. People hate associating with them and anyone seen going close to them was also regarded as having been infested with the disease. The notion in that pristine era was that one gets infected with the disease because of certain transgression for which the gods punished the victim. They had no hope and dignity.

    A typical example in the Bible was Neman who lived with the disease and was a taboo of sorts before his people. They were at arm’s length to him because they believed that whoever went close to him will be infected.

    His sorry condition continued until he had contact with Prophet Elisha who asked him to dip his leprous body in River Jordan seven times. That he did and he was healed.

    The discrimination that lepers in the olden days suffered is still being meted out to those who are living with the disease in our contemporary period.

    Worried by this dehumanising situation which lepers experience in the society, a group, the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Nigeria, in collaboration with a Japan-based private, non-profit grant-making organisation, NIPPON Foundation, has begun a nation-wide campaign designed to restore hope and dignity to people living with leprosy.

    The two organisations said they are worried about the stigmatisation of people living with leprosy, adding that there is need to restore hope to people living with the disease.

    According to C. E. Ogbonnaya, L. U. Ogbonnaya, C. M. Chuka-Okosa, the prevalence of leprosy has reduced from the estimated 10-12 million (with 5.4 million registered) worldwide in 1980s to about 0.75 million registered patients by 2002.

    However, the incidence increased from 550,000 by 1985 to approximately 700,000 by 2002. Many cured leprosy patients are living with disability, including ocular disability. Many of these are potentially sight threatening. Already, about 350, 000 to 400, 000 leprosy patients are estimated to be blind worldwide.

    In the Nigerian Journal of Ophthamology Vol. 12 (2) 2004: 38-45, Ogbonnaya, Chuka-Okosa said though the prevalence of leprosy is reducing, its incidence is increasing. Many cured leprosy patients are, however, living with ocular complications that could lead to blindness. Most of these blinding complications could be prevented with early diagnosis and prompt treatment.

    The authors advised that every health worker, particularly ophthalmologists, should be familiar with the ocular complications of leprosy, adding that periodic screening and surgical outreach programmes by ophthalmologists should be integrated into leprosy care programmes with a view to treating avoidable causes of blindness, especially cataract, uveitis and lagophthalmos. Funding for research on leprosy and health care delivery for leprosy should be sustained because available data show that leprosy is still a cause for concern.

    Speaking at a forum to kick-start the programme, the President, JCI Nigeria, Mr. Olatunji Oyeyemi, said the campaign is part of NIPPON Foundation’s global appeals to draw attention to the plight of people living with leprosy.

    He said: “We are delighted to be involved in the campaign to ensure that individuals live with dignity. The campaign is part of the NIPPON Foundation’s global appeals termed “Think Leprosy Now” campaign and we are glad to be able to work with them to bring a change to how the disease and people living with it are perceived.

    “A lot of Nigerians do not know that leprosy is a curable disease and this has resulted in unnecessary stigmatisation of victims. If the public understands the disease better, people affected with leprosy will feel freer to seek treatment at most general hospitals where treatment is free instead of segregating themselves. As young people, we would educate our peers nation-wide in order to establish a society that is compassionate towards people affected by leprosy.”

    According to him, JCI will connect with like-minded organisations such as IDEA Nigeria, that already has programmes aimed at bringing succour to people living with leprosy and their families locally.

    Some of the programmes planned for the “Think Leprosy Now” campaign include leprosy orientation, training for youths, nation-wide awareness campaign and production of a documentary highlighting the effects of leprosy in rural areas.

    Also speaking at the forum, the National Chairman, IDEA Nigeria, Mr. Ahmed Muhammed, said leprosy can be managed, adding that people should stop discriminating against people living with the disease.

    ”Leprosy is a disease that can be managed and treated but due to the high level of discrimination, most patients are ashamed of coming out for treatment. In the rural areas, most people do not know the symptoms, and as such they are most often disabled before they realise that they are affected. If it is discovered and treated early, most of the effected people will avoid the resultant disability that comes with it.

    ”The disease not only impacts the sufferers but also their families as they are unable to work and take care of their healthy children who often times have to go into isolation with them in communities set up for them. Even when some are completely cured, the disability from the disease which they’ve already overcome makes people still discriminate against them, leading to inability to find jobs and provide for their families,” he said.

    He said IDEA Nigeria has been involved in identifying people affected with the disease in rural areas and directing them to free treatment centres in most general hospitals to avoid the disability which lack of early treatment can cause. He pointed out that most people affected by the disease also have the tendency to discriminate against themselves which often leads them to segregate themselves and avoid help.

    JCI will use its active citizen framework to bring stakeholders such as government, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and the business community for collaboration as it seeks to demonstrate the power of youth in creating positive change in the face of societal challenges.

  • Edohouqua Eyiboh: A life of dignity and integrity

    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time” -Mark Twain

    Late Elder Sunday Edohouqua Eyiboh lived a full life to his demise at the age of 79. He crowded into a single soul and life the renaissance spirit. He was a craftsman, an inspirational leader of men, a role model with reform mindset, a quintessential organiser and an astute administrator with entrepreneurial instinct. As a father and grandfather, he cultivated and sustained in his name generational competitive models spanning politics, law, entrepreneurship, aviation, engineering, medicine and cyber science.

    He rode the trajectory of the self-made man. He began as a genius of the manual dexterity. He became a carpenter after he completed his primary education at the QIC school at Akpautong. While he gloried in his craftsmanship as a carpenter, his eyes were glittering for opportunities. So, from the earnings  of his toil and courage in his convictions, he took a notch higher at the Teacher’s Training College, Ndon Eyo in present Onna Local Government Area where he obtained his Teacher’s Grade Three Certificate.

    He won a berth in the classroom as a teacher. But his thirst for knowledge did not abate. So he pursued and secured his Grade Two Certificate at the Teacher’s Training College, Ndon Eyo. After plying himself with these qualifications, he taught at various primary schools and rose to the position of headmaster at various times and in many schools, where some great men and women of honour and character had their pupillage under this great brood of worthy leadership tradition.

    His value lay not only in his pedagogic skills in the classroom, but in the loftier realm of school administration. So, he was appointed to the Eket Divisional School Board as member. He acquitted himself so well that his appeal leapt across school administration. He was also appointed as a member of the Board of Directors of the Cross River Newspaper Corporation (publishers of the Nigerian Chronicle).

    All along, his engagement with the society as a community organiser, role model and politician blossomed. As a politician, he chimed in with the prevalent ideological wellspring of his people, and rose to become the organising Secretary of the  National Party of Nigeria (NPN), Eket Chapter. He also became Supervisory Councillor, Ibeno/Edo Local government council, Supervisory Councillor, Esit Eket Local Government Council and Chairman, Esit Eket Local Government Council.

    He was a leading edge character driven by the zeal of his hindsight, insight and foresight of life. He triggered prosperity through multidimensional investment in education. He was a founding Project Leader, Community Secondary School, Akpautong and Proprietor, Esit Eket Community Nursery School. As a renaissance man, he also knew how to earn income from strategic design thinking and change management. He launched into an integrated marine and land transport logistics concern in the oil and gas industry and became a director in Esuwdeik Nigeria Limited.

    With his hands, he made things as a carpenter. With his voice, he moulded lives in the classrooms. With his nobility, he organised his people to higher ideals of community and sacrifice. Before his health started to flag, this man of faith, dignity and integrity had left high values behind as sublime legacies. He shall never die as his name is spoken in this, and the generation beyond. His demise has only ended a life, not a relationship with his wife, two sons (one of whom is Hon Eseme Eyiboh, former member and spokesperson, House of Representatives), two daughters and formidable grandchildren.

    Late Elder Sunday Edohouqua Eyiboh may not have lived long enough, but his good life was long enough.

    “Everyman’s life ends the same way. It’s only the details of how he lived and how he died that distinguished one man from another” – Ernest Hemingway