By CrossRiverWatch Admin
Operators of the Presbyterian Tuberculosis and Leprosy home in Mbembe, Obubra local government area of central Cross River State have decried the lack of government attention to the facility.
The Assistant General Superintendent in charge of the facility which houses several dozen inmates, Mr. Iyamba Odum shared some of the challenges faced when a youths group visited to donate food items and household consumables to the facility on New Year’s day.
Mr. Odum said some of the maintenance work was been carried out with personal funds to prevent it from looking like a home for savages.
“Just recently, we went and negotiated with the prison staff, we brought in some of the prisoners where they came in here to tidy the whole environment and we paid them with personal funds.
“Looking at this place, if we don’t do anything tangible to keep the place tidy, it will look like where animals are kept since the government has decided to ignore this place.
“You see that this place is not an internally generated revenue (point). Initially, it was an organization created by most of the Whites and Philanthropist and they brought German drugs free of charge for the patients because most can’t pay for the drugs.
“But, when you talk about money that was supposed to have been brought in to help revitalize the place, it is no more. No incentives given to this place. So, these are all the problems we are facing here since this Government came in. No incentives to use and run this place.”
Items donated by the group led by Isek Violet included shoes, clothes as well as food items like rice, tomatoes, groundnut oil, garri; toiletries such as tissue, tooth paste, tooth brushes, disinfectants, detergents and soaps.
And, Isek, who also writes for CrossRiverWatch said that: “This outreach program is in the spirit of the new year as we intend to give them hope of a fresh start, a fresh beginning instead of just going about in a frenzy that does not benefit mankind. It is also the product of the love and passion I have for serving humanity and my philosophy of touching the lives of the less privileged.”
Several Nigerians had donated the items following her posts on social media about her intention to gather items to visit the facility.
This, according to her, became necessary because she had seen the need to: “Show some love, touch lives, and reach out to people who are affected with leprosy,” adding that: “Because of their health condition, most of them are badly affected and are not productive anymore, they can hardly feed, most of them with no families, and some with no homes.”
She continued: “Because of their health condition, they are kept in isolation. I know we cannot live with them. But since they are not productive, i just thought it is important to reach out to them and make them feel loved.”
They were not allowed access to the inmates. But, a representative who was referred to as “the chief” received the gifts on their behalf and commended the group.
Also, Mrs. Florence Ayang who is in charge of the laboratory section appreciated the team for their kind gesture and show of love.
Leave feedback about this