Nigerian Army
Nigerian Army
Nigerian Army
Nigerian Army did not neglect 13NA/70/3343 Lance
Corporal Ochefu Emmanuel
The attention of the Nigerian Army is drawn to a video clip
produced and disseminated by “Help This Life In Need Foundation”, a
Non-governmental organisation in which a soldier of the Nigerian
Army, 13NA/70/3343 Lance Corporal Ochefu Emmanuel was appealing for
help to fund his medical evacuation for kidney transplant. Although
it is not in our character to expose Service personnel in public
especially when they have medical challenges, it is imperative to
put matters in proper perspective.
The Nigerian Army is a very caring service that has the welfare
of its officers, soldiers and members of their families as top most
priority. Therefore, it is unimaginable to allege that a soldier
having medical problems would be abandoned by the Army as the video
clip wants to portray.
It is not true that there was a medical board for financial
help. The Nigerian Army has clearly established medical care and
evacuation procedure which is being adhered to.
For the benefit of doubt, the soldier in question was treated in
2018 at 3 different Nigerian Army medical facilities. It was
confirmed that he had chronic kidney disease with renal failure.
Both of his kidneys had failed and he became dependent on
dialysis.
Consequently, he had 20 sessions of dialysis at N50,000 per session
paid for by the Nigerian Army.
Our medical experts have also confirmed that his definitive
treatment is renal transplant. This was made known to him and
properly counselled for, while arrangements for the transplant are
being made. However, his situation is further compounded because of
lack of donor. Nonetheless, efforts are on going for his evacuation
and treatment.
Although he has also been diagnosed with retroviral situation,
with a high chance of rejection if the transplant is done, we are
unrelenting in ensuring that he is properly treated as machineries
for a transplant have been put in motion, while search for donor is
also ongoing.
We would like to thank all those well meaning Nigerians that showed
concern about the plight of the soldier.
However, we would also like to the warn the Non-governmental
organisation that facilittated the recording and dissemination of
the video clip to desist from spreading falsehood without
contacting the Nigerins Army authorities. The NGO may be attempting
to defraud the public.
We therefore wish to warn the Non-governmental organization to
desist from taking undue advantage of medical conditions of service
personnel such as Ochefu Emmanuel to make money or defraud
unsuspecting members of the public.
SAGIR MUSA
Colonel
Acting Director Army Public Relations