Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has directed the Commissioner for Health, Dr Mrs Ngozi Okoronkwo to ensure comprehensive care for the Okada rider,Orji Felix who was involved in a recent accident with a government vehicle at Ohafia.
Governor Otti equally issued an immediate suspension order for the Government House driver, Onyebuchi Steven who reportedly collided with the Okada rider. The suspension will remain in effect pending a thorough investigation.
The Government House has released a statement confirming that an investigation will be carried out to determine the driver’s level of responsibility in the incident.
A statement made available to Newsmen by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Kazie Ukoh further stated that Governor Otti equally directed the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ngozi Okoronkwo, to oversee and ensure the injured Okada rider, Orji Felix, receives the best available medical care at no cost to him or his family.
Onyebuchi Steven, the driver of a Toyota Hilux pick-up, collided with the Okada rider, Felix, who had just picked up a passenger by the road side and was about riding off.
The incident happened on Federal Road, by Old Soldier Junction. Both rider and passenger were promptly evacuated to a hospital near the scene of the accident.
While the passenger was treated for minor injuries at a local hospital in Ohafia and discharged, Felix, according to the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Ngozi Okoronkwo, suffered multiple fractures on his left leg and right arm.
The 18-year-old Okada rider was subsequently evacuated in an ambulance from Ohafia to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Umuahia, after he was attended to by Dr. Okoronkwo, who applied first aid on him and bandaged his injured leg and arm.
Felix is currently admitted at the Crowther Ward, FMC, where he is recuperating. Nurses on duty, as at Sunday night, described his condition as “very stable”.
The patient, who is now receiving full medical attention, was seen interacting and responding to questions posed at him. “The pain is not much again,” he replied when asked about the pain in his left leg.
The Commissioner of Health, who returned to the hospital on the night of the incident to monitor the patient’s progress, thanked the nurses on duty for taking good care of him and reiterated the Governor’s directive that the patient be properly attended to.