A woman has died while giving birth to a baby on the floor in a dilapidated class room at Bakassi IDP camp last week. Enobong Asuquo died at Akwa Ikot Eyo Internally Displaced Camp of Bakassi Returnees in Cross River State on 27th March, 2018 after childbirth following retained placenta and post par tum 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 they have nothing in the camp to hold on to.
Narrating the incidence, the Camp leader Etim Okon Ene said at 2am late Enobong Asuquo went into labour, there was no means of taking her to the nearest health center she successfully gave birth to a baby boy but had retained placenta. She bleed to death. He said this may 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.
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.
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.
She supported the family with an undisclosed amount and promised that the Agency will do more to help the situation.