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Friday, December 14, 2012

‘Doctors without Borders’ Leaves Niger Delta with Tears and Thanks

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'Doctors without Borders' Leaves Niger Delta with Tears and Thanks
Dec 14th 2012, 23:46

Nigerian News (Niger Delta) — The French-founded non-profit Medicins Sans Frontieres (or Doctors Without Borders) are a ready presence at armed crises spots the world over, since their founding in 1971. They have criss-crossed the globe for the purpose of offering medical aid to people in challenging circumstances, whether it be war, epidemics, natural disasters and those excluded from safe healthcare.

'Doctors without Borders' Leaves Niger Delta with Tears and Thanks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What happened in the Niger Delta in the four years leading from 2005 was one such situation. Beginning with attempts by several youth organizations in the oil-rich region to redress their perceived economic and environment injustice perpetuated on them and their land which has been contributing over 80% to Nigeria's

foreign exchange since the early 1970s, the situation would degenerate with the expected response from the federal government. Expectedly soldiers drafted to protect oil industry infrastructure and facilities had to confront the insurgence. Outside of this, there was also splintering of the youth groups and each vying against the other for other measures of sustaining their presence.
With a high population of unemployed youths and availability of short arms, it wasn't long before the situation became dire. By late 2006, the degeneration was a near war situation that the central Niger Delta city became a military-patrolled metropolis, with dusk to dawn curfew instituted in some major cities. Inadequate and poor local medical care aggravated the issues of number and degree of casualties. MSF, with the support of the United Nations, came to meet this gap.
MSF began its TEME Clinic, Port Harcourt operations in 2005 and would still continue even with the resolution of the initial challenge which had led to their coming. In 2009, the federal government had addressed the issue of militancy in the delta by granting a general amnesty. MSF's continued stay rose from another medical concern in part related to the not very excellent handling of the amnesty programme. A number of youth missed in the amnesty programme or unprepared to lay down arms, vied to kidnapping, not only of oil industry workers as the earlier situation had been characterised, but also of private citizens. Mutilation and murder of abducted persons were not uncommon when ransoms were delayed.
From its earliest operations until it would announce its plans to leave from the Niger Delta (in October 2012 and final pull-out in March 2013) following the return of peace and after a commendable seven-year commitment to the health emergencies, over 13, 000 persons have been so treated in skin crafting, bullet wounds, damages to borne resulting mostly from motorcycle accidents and so on.
In terms of their contribution on the issues of health emergencies, many persons in Rivers State would consider an attempt at quantifying its value as a show of ingratitude. MSF has been an invaluable organization. It is particularly striking and nostalgic to recognise that MSF was created in 1971 in reaction to the Nigerian Civil War with the frightening pictures of protein-starved children in Port Harcourt and elsewhere in the secessionist territory.
MSF did live up to its set purpose. They were a friend, and not just any but one willing to risk the comforts and lives of their volunteers.
On behalf of Port Harcourt People, the Niger Delta People and Nigeria at large, we say THANK YOU — Portharcourtpost

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