Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukw
Doctors at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, on Tuesday confirmed that ex-Biafran warlord, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, was in a coma at the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital.
Though Odumegwu-Ojukwu was still unconscious when THE PUNCH visited the hospital, it was learnt that he was in a slightly improved state than when he was brought in on Sunday morning.
A source said the leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance was not rushed to the hospital on Monday as reported by some newspapers (THE PUNCH not included).
A doctor at the ICU said the politician was brought to the Accident and Emergency Unit by his wife, Bianca, and some aides. The doctor, who declined to give his name said he (Odumegwu-Ojukwu) was later moved to the ICU in the afternoon after he was diagnosed of Cerebral Vascular Accident.
He said, “The CVA occurs when there has been a destruction of the cerebral vessels and it could keep one unconscious for not more than two weeks.
“His case is a bit worse because he was hypertensive before now and probably did not take his drugs as recommended.”
CVA, according to seniorhealth.about.com, is “another name for a stroke. It is damage to the brain caused by a disruption of the blood supply to a part of the brain.
“This disruption of blood supply can be caused by a blood clot, or by a ruptured artery.
The website also states that “symptoms of a CVA depend on which part of the brain is affected. Common symptoms may include paralysis of a part of the body, loss of all or part of the vision, or loss of the ability to speak or to understand speech.”
When contacted, the UNTH, Chief Medical Director, Dr. Anthony Mbah, said Odumegwu-Ojukwu would be flown abroad in an air ambulance as soon as his health condition stabilised.
“No doubt, his condition is very critical but not as bad as it was the first day. He is still in a coma and as soon as he pulls through, we will fly him abroad for further medication,” said Mbah.
Also speaking, the APGA National Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh, said the elder statesman’s health was not as bad as reported.
Umeh told THE PUNCH that he only had a relapse and would pull through soon.
He said, “The Odumegwu-Ojukwu I saw today should be on his feet in a week. It is not something to panic about. There is no cause for alarm.”
Bianca corroborated Umeh’s views, when she told our correspondent that “there is no need for worry.”
President Goodluck Jonathan had visited Odumegwu-Ojukwu on Saturday after performing the official reopening of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.
According to an aide at Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s residence, “When Jonathan came in with governors of the South-East states, ministers and senators, he alone went upstairs to see Oga (my boss).”
Odumegwu-Ojukwu was born on November 4, 1933 at Zungeru, Niger State, to the first President of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Sir Louis Phillippe Odumegwu-Ojukwu.
As a Lieutenant Colonel in the Nigerian Army and governor of the old Eastern Region, he declared the succession of the region from Nigeria in 1967. His action resulted in a 30-month old civil war between Biafra Republic and Nigeria.
Source:Punch
No comments:
Post a Comment