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Yellow Fever: FG Condemns Deportation Of 125 Nigerians By S’Africa
The Federal Government, yesterday, decried the deportation of 125 Nigerian travellers from South Africa for allegedly being in possession of fake Yellow Fever Certificates.
Our correspondent reports that the Nigerians were deported from South Africa on Friday.
Reacting to the development in an interview with newsmen in Abuja, Foreign Affairs Minister, Olugbenga Ashiru said that the South African High Commission in Nigeria had verified the certificates before issuing visas from their Lagos and Abuja offices to the travellers.
Ashiru also said that Nigeria had been certified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a Yellow Fever free nation and as such he did not see any reason why the South African Immigration Services turned back the travellers.
“That is why countries in Europe and the U.S. do not demand Yellow Fever cards from Nigerian travellers; it is only South Africa, and a few countries in the Southern Hemisphere who demand Yellow Fever card from travelers,’ he said, noting that “Nigeria will handle the matter in a matured way.
Meanwhile, Ashiru has directed the Nigerian High Commissioner in South Africa to lodge a formal protest over the action of South African immigration officials.
Reacting to the development, the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora Affairs, Rep Abike Dabiri-Erewa, criticised the deportation of Nigerians on Friday by the South African Government, describing it as illegal.
In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday, Dabiri-Erewa said the act was part of the “continuous unwarranted hostilities” against Nigerians by the South Africa government’’.
The lawmaker described the attitude of the South African Government immigration officials as “degrading” and condemned the continuous hostility toward Nigerians by South Africans as unacceptable.
“It is pathetic that 125 Nigerians, the highest so far, which include women and children, were delayed for 24 hours without water and food in an inhuman condition before being bundled back to Nigeria.’’
“Do Nigerian officials ask South Africans to fill Yellow form when coming to Nigeria? Why treat Nigerians with scorn and indignation. This is really appalling,’’ she stated.
The lawmaker recalled the various roles Nigerians, including women and children, played in dismantling apartheid in South Africa.
“Is this the way to pay Nigeria back for their kind gesture? This is unfair and unAfrican,’’ she said.
The chairman urged the Federal Government to apply the rule of reciprocity to South Africans coming to Nigeria.
Dabiri-Erewa also recalled how South African businesses such as MTN and Multi-Choice, owner of DSTV, among others, were thriving in Nigeria better than any part of Africa without any form of molestation from the Nigerian government.
The Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, has teamed up with a renowned hospital group in Port Harcourt, the Meridian Hospitals, which is in partnership with the Pilgrims Health Foundation, to carry out a one-day medical outreach last Tuesday.
The free treatment scheme took place at Oromenike Government Girls Secondary School in D-Line, Port Harcourt, with over 100 persons accessing free treatments, including free eye-glasses and booking for eye surgeries.
Other areas of treatment included general health consultations and treatment; blood pressure and sugar level testing; malaria testing and treatment; free prescriptions; preventive health talks focusing on hygiene, maternal health, and nutrition.
The scheme was conducted under the theme: ‘Bringing Healthcare to the Community.’
Newsmen who visited the venue of the scheme found that enthusiastic beneficiaries had thronged the area as early as 7a.m. After setting up, the medical team began attending to the patients.
Mr. Jerry Onwuso, a 63-year-old patient, who was first to see eye doctors and got eye glasses and drugs, told newsmen that he was pleased with the medical intervention.
He made it clear he did not pay any money to get all the treatments and glasses, and pleaded that the scheme be sustained.
Another patient, Loveth Sam, expressed satisfaction with the scheme and appealed to the sponsors to continue to increase the benefits.
Throwing some light on the scheme, Mr. China said he worked in Meridian Hospitals as a Lab. Scientist 19 years ago, but resigned because he could not bear to see patients struggling for life because they had no money to pay for treatment.
He said he came back to help extend free medical treatment to the less privileged.
Sources said China was always having issues with the hospital authorities when he would insist on critical patients being allowed to be treated first, with or without money.
Years later, China, who now goes by a brand name, the Mayor of Housing, returned to the Meridian Hospital headquarters to support free medical scheme.
He also went the next day to the headquarters of Meridian, after the one-day medical outreach, to give cash gifts and palliatives to workers he met when he worked there but had remained in service since he left.
He encouraged them to continue to give their all to humanity through the hospital. The Mayor of Housing called most of them by name and a cloud of emotions descended on them during the reunion.
Appreciating the gesture, the Founder and Chief Medical Director, Dr. Iyke Odo, said China had always manifested hard-work, ambition, and impulsive giving.
According to him, the then young bright boy was full of humanity, kindness, love, and made friends easily, adding that “not everybody that gives is a giver. The difference is that givers are given to give.”
Dr. Odo used the opportunity to call on governments to review Nigeria’s health insurance system and make it work in Nigeria to save lives.
He said it was sad watching critically sick persons abandoned because they did not have money for treatment.
He also condemned harsh tax and electricity tariffs whereby facilities like his now pay N12 million instead of N500,000 few years back.
He wondered why hospitals were being made to pay tariffs like oil companies, citing many other countries where medical facilities were placed on low rates and tariffs so they could charge moderate fees from patients.
The Renewed Hope Initiative in conjunction with the Rivers State Government has empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with financial support of N200,000 each.
The empowerment programme was part of activities to celebrate the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme RHIESS, a social investment policy initiated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at the event which held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, under the theme, ‘Finding Joy in Old Age,’ Senator Tinubu said the gesture which has become traditional since 2023 was a mark of gratitude in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the senior citizens to nation building.
The First Lady who was represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, said the scheme was to “support two hundred and fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) totalling 9,500 selected beneficiaries across the nation.
She urged the beneficiaries to engage in activities that will make them find joy in old age.
“I encourage you to continue playing your part by staying healthy and active, nurture both your body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagement,” Senator Tinubu advised.
On her part, Lady Fubara said the State Government through the magnanimity of the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has increased the beneficiaries of the programme from 250 to 500.
She restated the commitment of the State Government towards provision of social welfare and improving the standard of living of the elderly in the State.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, said the State Government has through the Health4allrivers Initiative, introduced free medical care for senior citizens in the State, in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
