Five years after the Federal Executive Council approved the participation of National Youth Corps members in the National Health Insurance system, many troops still bear the cost of health care and many depend on their families. increase. Treatment of injuries caused by accidents and road accidents. Alfred Orufemi Report: Report:
Uplifting after printing the NYSC call letter, Zahara Komolafe was looking forward to a trip to Enugu, where she wanted to serve for a year. She was eager to embark on her trip as she was the first to travel to eastern Nigeria.
Zahara’s thinking is in line with the thinking of many future corps members who believe that interstate deployments provide an opportunity to explore new environments.
But as fate has it, when she arrived in Enugu, commonly referred to as the Coal City, her first call was not, as expected, the NYSC camp. Rather, she was taken to the National Orthopedic Hospital in Enugu, where she broke her legs and caused heavy bleeding on that unlucky Tuesday.
Zahara, now 33, talks about how a trip to Enugu was the origin of her disability.
According to her, a 14-seater Toyota bus, on which she and 12 other corps members were on board, collided with another oncoming vehicle.
“It was January 24, 2017. The trip from Ilorin to Enugu was smooth. And when we arrived in Enugu, the majority of us called our families and arrived safely, now (Ag). I told him I was heading to the camp, but I didn’t get to the camp.
There was an accident on the way.
“I think the bus was too fast and the driver was going back and forth between lanes. He wasn’t staying in his lane. When the accident happened, he (the driver) was actually one. He was out of the lane and a jeep coming from the other side collided with our bus with no way to avoid us. It happened. It was the way, “remembered a graduate of the University of Ilorin.
No one died in the accident, but the driver and most passengers had broken limbs, Zahara said, adding that he was seriously injured because he was sitting next to the driver.
“So we were helped by good Samaritans and they decided to take us to the National Orthopedic Hospital in Enugu. In fact we were well received and the treatment started immediately.
Hospital officials said they would accompany us because we were government pequins (as they called it). They were on strike, but they were still in attendance because we were all members of the corps. I think they stopped the strike and started treatment immediately.
My feet were very important. After a regular x-ray examination, I was vaccinated against tetanus because I was bleeding outside and actually bleeding inside. Therefore, the wound was open. So, after giving me tetanus, you know they couldn’t have surgery that same day, they gave me first aid. ”
According to the young woman, on different days she had to undergo two major surgeries over hours.
“It was a long procedure and not really easy. I thank God for life.”
She also said she was registered in the hospital at the hospital and was subsequently allowed to relocate to the state of Lagos where her parents live.
“I was relocated to Lagos, where I was based and was referred to the National Orthopedic Hospital in Igbobi, where I continued treatment.”
Ignored after relocation
She confirmed that the month of free medical care she spent at Enugu Hospital was top notch, but Zahara said her relocation to Lagos was a sour experience in terms of treatment.
She said her parents had a hard time moving Lagos using walking aids and how they submitted the bill with little help from their relatives.
“When I arrived in Lagos, I remembered what I was told. When we were done, all the money we spent and everything would have to be written and submitted, And you know they (NYSC Directorate) will pay, but until now there was nothing, “she said disappointed.
Medical expenses for NYSC and corps members
NYSC boasts on its website as a reimbursement agency for members of the corps and is listed as one of the functions of the corps’ welfare and inspection department.
“This department is responsible for all health issues as it affects members of the corps. It basically prepares and processes medical refund invoices for the payment of members of the corps. It will contact the accounting department for payment, “the agency claimed.
According to a document reviewed by PUNCH Healthwise, Zahara’s total bill for Zahara after implant surgery at the National Orthopedic Hospital in Igbobi, Lagos was 693,500 N. Titanium plate surgery was aimed at keeping Zahara’s repair bone in place.
By the end of the December plan, the sick woman wrote to NYSC management asking for a refund of N1.27m, which is the payment for surgery, postoperative treatment, and other miscellaneous expenses.
The letter obtained by our correspondent was addressed to the Directorate General of NYSC on December 17, 2017, through the office of the NYSC Coordinator in Lagos.
Five years later, the board hasn’t heard anything.
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