By Prince Charles Ekanem
Another woman has died while giving birth to a baby on the floor in a dilapidated class room at Bakassi IDP camp last week.
The young Woman identified as Enobong Asuquo at Akwa Ikot Eyo Internally Displaced Camp of Bakassi Returnees at Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State on 27th March, 2018 died after childbirth following retained placenta and post partum haemorrhage.
Speaking, the deceased husband, Chief Asuquo Etim Asuquo pleaded with the Government and concerned individuals to come to their aid by assisting him bury his late wife who gave up ghost after child delivery in the IDP Camp under unfavorable condition. He also called for help in taking care of the new born as the have nothing in the camp to hold on to.
Narrating the incidence, the Camp leader Etim Okon Ene said at 2am late Enebong Asuquo went into labour, there was no means of taking her to the nearest health center. After a protected labour, she succesfully gave birth to a baby boy but had retained placenta. She bled to death. He said this would not have occurred if the Federal Government had listen to their pleas of having a better place to live, hospital and source of livelihood.
According to Ene, the corpse was deposited at a mud house and has not been buried because there is no money to buy coffin. He said the Governor of Cross River Sen Ben Ayade has helped them from the lean resources of state but he cannot carry burden of 3500 families alone. FG must come and fulfill it's part.
Mr Ene called on everyone involved in the seeding of Bakassi to Cameroon to respect the Green Tree Agreement which did not state that Bakassi indigenes should be homeless, die of complicated diseases, lack good road, hospitals and infrastructures. He said the late woman had given birth to a bouncing baby boy by name Samuel, leaving behind the husband, Chief Asuquo Etim Asuquo.
Ene noted that the first form of assistance was given to them by Channels Reporter, Imani which they have used it in buying baby food and pampers.
Speaking, Director General of Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Betta Edu said she mourns with the family and the entire bakassi returnee community. She noted sadly that the Federal Government of Nigeria is not being sincere with the issue of Bakassi returnees and IDPs in Cross River State.
"I wonder how many more people need to die before the Federal Government of Nigeria will look into the issue of Internally Displaced Persons of Bakassi.
She said this people have been here for so long without proper resetlement and today a woman has lost her life leaving behind a baby boy, the father and the community who have nothing to cater for the child.
Dr Betta said several children here are struggling to have one meal a day in camp that is an abandoned old school block. She call on President Muhammadu Buhari to look into the issue of Bakassi returnees and IDPs by providing homes and source of livelihood for them as they cannot continue to pass through inflicted pains.
"Cross River State Government will continue to do their best in supporting the returnees and IDPs while hoping that one day the FG will live up to their responsibility and listen to cry of the people says the DG.we send a health worker everyday to the camp but since there is no health center the workers can't run shift and the can't sleep over to take deliveries at night.
She noted that the IDPs has not been treated fairly especially as training meant for them was hijacked and people brought from other states were rather trained and empowered while the main beneficiaries from Bakassi are roasting in deep poverty and dying of hunger everyday.
She faulted the bags of millet given to them by National Refugees Commission sighting it as wastage since the people doesn't know how to use it. According to her it is falsehood for the FG to announce that it is giving out one bag of rice per household but ended up giving 40 bags of rice to over 3500 household in the IDP which each household ended up receiving less than 3 Cups of Rice each.
She added that IDPs should not be a source of oil well for politicians as politics should be separated from reality and welfare of Bakassi Returnees who are voiceless. She supported the family with an undisclosed amount and promised that the Agency will do more to help the situation
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