The Benue State Ministry of Health and Human Services has actually slammed Prof. Terhemba Shija, for politicizing the death of Samuel Tagher.

Tagher, a medical doctor, died a few days ago of Lassa fever in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.

The deceased medical professional, who was a staff of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Benue State, is said to have taken ill and was described Irrua Specialist Hospital in Edo State, where he later died.

Following his death, Prof. Shija, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, had in an entitled: ‘The Land That Devours Its Own; A Dirge For All Fallen Heroes in Benue State,’ Prof Shija, implicated the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, BSUTH, Ministry of Health and the State Government of being accountable for the death of Dr Tagher.

Reacting, the state’s ministry of health revealed dissatisfaction with Shija’s comment on the death of the young man.

A statement signed by Haanya Aondoakura, the Media Assistant to the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Joseph Ngbea, described Shija’s post as “an outright resort to murdering truths and politicizing deaths.”

The statement reads listed below:

“A few days ago, the medical profession in Benue State lost one of its budding and hard-working members, Dr. Samuel Tagher, to Lassa Fever. As associates, family and friends of the fallen hero mourn and brace up to deal with the reality of his untimely death, a popular academic and politician in the state, Prof. Terhemba Shija, rather chose to utilize this unfortunate incident to play politics with his death.

“Inasmuch as we would not want to join issues with the professor, who should generally be a statesman without political bias in such times, he selected to do otherwise.
“In his bid to be governor of Benue State in 2023 at all costs, he chose to use filthy political techniques to endear himself to individuals. To this end, we want to put the truths directly, specifically as it relates to how Dr Tagher was managed at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, before he was transferred to another medical facility.

“Dr Tagher was given the center on January 5, 2022 and due to the signs he revealed and the test purchased for, a working medical diagnosis of malaria fever was made and treatment began right away. His condition was stabilized and a discharge was thought about. However the consultants managing his case decided to put him on additional observation.

“It was while he was being observed that he showed more signs, which ended up being suggestive of Lassa Fever and more tests were bought which returned favorable for Lassa on 6th January 2022. He was instantly transferred to a seclusion centre and treatment for Lassa began.

“It was at this point that he was described Irua Specialist Hospital, Edo State for additional management. He couldn’t come out and we lost him. Summarily, this was precisely what took place and how his expert coworkers in the State attempted to conserve him.

“Before one is qualified to practice as a Medical physician, he goes through a series of ethical treatments along with oaths to support the sanctity of life. When it comes to Dr Tagher, we did our best for him in line with the demands on us. It is just unfortunate that he would go the way of all men at this time.

“Professor Shija is not a medical physician, but common sense expects that he should know all these and maintain them in spite of his desperate political project’s pressure. An outright resort to murdering facts and politicizing deaths, to a big extant, would make our Professor look little bit than he ought to appear to the public.

“We use this opportunity to have compassion with the household of Dr Samuel Tagher and want them well at this trying time and might his soul rest in peace.”

DailyPost