Okogbe Tanker Fire: RSG Inaugurates Burns Committee

An 11-man emergency Burns Committee to cater for the survivors of the petroleum tanker fire disaster which occurred at Okogbe in Ahoada  West Local Government Area of  Rivers State, has been inaugurated.

The committee, inaugurated by the state commissioner for Health, Tamunoiyoriari  S. Parker, at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, (UPTH), Alakahia has the Chief Medical Director, of the hospital, Dr Aaron Ojule as its chairman.

While performing the inauguration of the committee tagged, Rivers State July 12th Emergency Burns Committee, Dr Parker revealed that 73 victims were presently receiving treatment at the intensive care units of three government owned hospitals in Rivers State including the UPTH, Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hosptal (BMSH) and General Hospital, Ahoada, adding that an unconfirmed number were taken to hospitals in neighbouring  Bayelsa State and some other places.

Dr Parker said the aim of the committee was to see a way of salvaging the lives of the survivors presently receiving treatment in hospitals, noting that most of received 70 degree burns.

He said, “it is the utmost desire of the state governor, Chubuike Rotimi Amaechi,  that the lives of some of the victims at the hospitals are saved” and called of the dedication and handwork on the part of committee members.

The commissioner who put the death toll at between 95 and 98 persons, blamed the unfortunate incident on indiscipline on the part of the public rather than the widely held view of poverty and poor state of the East-West Road.

He noted that the public simply refuses to   acknowledge the dangers associated with the highly flammable petroleum products such as the Premium Motor Spirit popularly called petrol.

Tonye Nria-Dappa