Education, they say, empowers one to stand up for one’s rights, refusing to be intimidated and never to be toyed with.
This is appropriately made manifest in an organizing summons instituted by a legal practitioner, Barr. Victoria Nwenenda Opara, in suit No. PHC 2323/2012, in a High Court of Rivers State.
The originating summons was brought pursuant to sections 3(11) 5 and 7 of the Rivers State Reproductive Health services Law, No 3, 2003 and under the inherent jurisdiction of the Honourable court.
This is sequel to the collection of fees in government hospitals for antenatal and related reproductive care services.
The Rivers State government has often stated that it runs free medical care for antenatal services.
Barr. Victoria Opara has by this suit challenged the 2nd Defendant, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sampson Parker, to publish the names/locations of all governments hospitals designated as reproductive health centres for the purpose(s) of providing free reproductive health care services as envisioned and stipulated by the Rivers State Reproductive Health Services Law (2003).
The Plaintiff who regretted that the 2nd Defendant (Dr. Parker) has disregarded an earlier statutory notice issued him on the matter in contraventions to the law, said that the defendants who enacted the law should not be allowed to disobey its own law(s).
The Plaintiff who recalled how in 2011 she was made to pay N14,700 for antenatal care at Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital, also said that while she was there, she noticed that several pregnant women who were in dire need of urgent medical care were denied attention on the grounds that they could not afford the N14,700 demanded by the hospital from them. The Plaintiff who is also the founder of the foundation for the Advancement of Women, Widows and the Girl Child, said this action of the Rivers State government contravenes the reproductive health services law passed by the government and also contravenes the public policy of free medical health.
The intention of the law according to Barr. Victoria Opara is to stem the high rate of maternal deaths in Rivers State by making reproductive health care services available to the most vulnerable members of the society, being the poor.
The governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi was joined in the case as the 1st Defendant, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sampson Parker, 2nd Defendant and Attorney-General of the state, Barr. Wogu Boms is the 3rd Defendants. They are expected to cause an appearance to be entered not later than 21 days after service of this summon on them. ###
