The people of Umugota Orisheze in Ozuzu community in Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area (LGA) of Imo state, have appealed to Federal and Imo state government to provide them with basic amenities.
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The people of the community made the appeal on Sunday in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) following cry of neglect and abandonment by some residents of the area.
NAN reports that the community had no access road, hospital, light, adequate water, market or school.
Some of the residents who spoke with NAN said that the only government presence in the community was an abandoned and uncompleted building for primary healthcare.
They said the surroundings of the buiding were overgrown with weeds.
”The building which houses lizards and rats also harbours hoodlums and has been turned to an emergency toilet littered with human waste,” Kevin Okeke, a community leader said.
He said that the community had been without electricity light for many months.
Okere, a farmer said that their appeal to government was to let them know that residents of the community were at risk of dying from neglect.
“Many are dying of hunger and diseases here. Nobody is happy in this part of the country. We are praying that those in authority will come to our aide soon.
“We are mostly farmers, but we do not have a market to buy or sell, we have not had light in this community for a very long time, maybe two years.
“We do not have good access roads, people die here like chickens, because we cannot even tell what is killing them, we live in extreme poverty in this community.
“We do not have any hospital here, and pregnant women cannot attend anbuilding.
“Most of them give birth at home and when peradventure bleeding starts, the rest is in God’s hands because most of them die,” he said.
Okere, however, pleaded with the state government to provide basic health and infracstrure to the community.
Mr Uche Tony, another farmer, also appealed for urgent attention and intervention in the community.
”Nobody lives a long life in an environment that lacks clean water, quality healthcare, light or school.
”Our children in the community have no hope of a better life.
“The children of this community are very intelligent and are eager to go to school, but there is no school here; they often go to neighbouring villages to acquire education.
“You cannot imagine the distance and stress from here to Imeriewe community (neighbouring village), only those who have bicycles can go.
“I have seen countless women die during childbirth in this community, if you have time I will take you round,” he said.
Mrs Kate Ozoemena, a business woman, said it was unfortunate that government could leave a community of people to suffer deprivation to the extent of not erecting a block of classrooms.
”Women go to far away communities with their produce to sell and buy. Our community had not benefited anything from both the federal and state governments.
“We travel to Owerri to access healthcare services; that is for those who have financial capability to go, else we depend on a village chemist to treat us no matter the ailment.
“I have been feeling sick for a while now, but I have no money or means to go to Owerri for check-up and treatment.
“I am the traditional birth attendant here, I help women deliver their babies, but honestly it has not been easy around here because our women suffer a lot.
“We really need urgent assistance; you can see things for yourself. It is almost a hopeless situation, may God help us,” she said.