Doctors at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku Ozalla where the sick former Biafran warlord, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu was rushed to on Sunday said yesterday that they are waiting for the arrival of an air ambulance before they will carry out a Computerized Tomography (CT) scan on him preparatory to his being flown abroad for further medical attention.
According to the doctors, the CT scan will determine the level of damage done to the brain of the Igbo leader so as to guide them on how to move him into an ambulance.
The doctors told Daily Sun that the scan would have been carried out yesterday, but for the non-arrival of the air ambulance, insisting that the CT scan is very crucial so as not to cause further damage to the national leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) when moving him into the air ambulance.
The doctors said the Ojukwu family is making frantic efforts to get the ambulance. But when one of his close associates was contacted yesterday he claimed that Ojukwu’s health was beginning to stabilize, adding that they may have to leave him to recover fully at the UNTH. Ojukwu was taken to the hospital in an unconscious state last Sunday and placed on life support machine at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) to stabilize his failing health.
Though the Chief Medical Director of the UNTH, Enugu, Dr Anthony Mbah, had said the Ikemba Nnewi was regaining consciousness, an impeccable source at the hospital confided in Daily Sun that the case would be better handled abroad.
Already, there were strong indications that the Eze Igbo Gburugburu would be flown to either Egypt or South Africa immediately the result of the CT scan is out. According to Dr Mbah, a team of consultants led by Prof Vincent Ike, a consultant cardiologist, has been working very hard to save the life of Ojukwu.
“He was brought to the accident and emergency department of this hospital in an unconscious state last Sunday. The blood pressure was quite low and he was not making enough urine. Upon his arrival, all consultants started work on him immediately; diagnostic procedures were immediately administered on him and right now I can say, the blood pressure has stabilized and he is making enough urine, though his level of consciousness has not improved greatly, but efforts are in top gear to fly him abroad.
“As a hospital, we have already provided transport oxygen and we are updating his medical certificate every moment in order to get ready for his rapid evacuation.
“The opinion of the medical team working on him is that he has stroke attack and as I’m speaking, he is on a ventilator, which is an artificial breathing machine just to help his breadth because he was breathing excessively when he was brought here. For now, we have evidence that the oxygen saturation is okay. I also have it on good authority that the family is thinking of getting a flying ambulance to take him away,” Mba disclosed.
An Igbo socio-cultural organization, Aka Ikenga in a statement issued signed by its leader Dr. Sylva Ebigwei, has expressed gratitude to Ojukwu’s “family, doctors and all the authorities who have worked hard to stabilize his condition and are arranging whatever treatment that will be needed to nurse him back to full health.”
The group described Ikemba as national icon, the voice and rallying point of the hope and aspiration of millions of people, stating that it joins millions of Nigerians across the world and his numerous admirers to wish him full recovery.
Meanwhile, the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign States of Biafra, MASOB has declared prayer for the quick recovery of the elder statesman. In a statement signed by its National Director of Publicity, Mr. Uchenna Madu, the group said that the Biafra Clergy Parliament, (MASSOB Religious Affairs Department) has declared prayer for the sick Ojukwu.
He stated the members would also continue to offer series of intercession for the quick recovery of their leader whom he said had done so much for the Igbo race.
Mr. Madu also in the statement said that notable men of God have been assembled to offer fervent payers to God for healing on Ojukwu, adding “our assistance to him is prayers, Bishop C.J Okeke, National Coordinator, Biafra Clergy Parliament will lead other clergymen in the prayers.”
At the old market road, Onitsha, opposite the post office, some commercial motorcycle operators popularly called Okada were seen in very solemn mode yesterday discussing in groups while others were praying that Ojukwu should not die. However, some of them told Daily Sun that if anything happens to Ojukwu, it may spell doom for the people of the South East who, according to tham are at a crossroad over Igbo Presidency in 2015.
Source:Sun
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