In light of the recent conviction and sentence of former Nigeria Deputy Senate President in the United Kingdom, Senator Ike Ekeremadu, for organ harvesting, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has said his ordeals were as a result of poor health facilities in country as caused by governments’ neglect and complacency.
The medical body described Ekweremadu’s pathetic ordeal as avoidable if health facilities in the country were at the same level as what is obtainable overseas.
Recall that on Friday, a court in the United Kingdom sentenced Ekweremadu to nine years and eight-month imprisonment even as his wife, Mrs. Beatrice Ekweremadu bagged four years and six-month prison sentence.
Also, the medical doctor involved; Dr. Obinna Obeta was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment with his medical licence suspended.
According to Justice Johnson, after deducting the period already spent in detention, Ekweremadu will spend about 5/6 years in prison (2/3 of his 9+ year prison sentence) while his wife will spend about 2 years in prison (one-half of her 4+ years in prison).
Reacting to the organ harvesting attempt and eventual prosecution, the NMA said the Ekeremadu’s prosecution would have been avoided as procedures for organ transplantation could have been professionally and ethically carried out in the country.
The NMA, while urging doctors and dentists to abide by all the ethics guiding the medical profession, further admonished them to be in tune with national and international guidelines for organ donations, harvesting and transplantation, including Assisted Reproduction Technology, as such guidelines vary from one country to another.
The NMA, in a communique by its President, Dr. Uche Ojinmah, after its 63rd Annual Conference and Delegates’ Meeting (AGC/DM) in Taraba State, said: “The AGC/DM noted with deep concern the conviction of three Nigerians namely Senator Ike Ekweremadu (former Deputy President of the Senate), his wife; Mrs. Beatrice Ekweremadu, and a medical doctor; Dr. Obinna Obeta in the United Kingdom for trafficking for organ harvesting of a 21-year-old poor and vulnerable Nigerian.
“It was also noted that experts and facilities that could handle such organ transplantation were available in Nigeria but usually spurned by our government officials in preference for medical tourism.
“The AGC/DM urged Nigerians to know that the details of the above guidelines also vary from one country to another.
“Furthermore, the AGC/DM implored the Federal Government to protect poor and vulnerable Nigerians from exploitation for organ donation.
