For 10 years now, I’ve found it difficult urinating –Victim of adulterated kerosene explosion

 Over 10 years after suffering severe burns following explosion from a lamp that was laden with adulterated kerosene, Nnamdi Onwukwe, an indigene of Abia State, is yet to recover from the incident.

The 24-year-old man told our correspondent that he had visited several hospitals including the National Hospital in Abuja and the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital where it was concluded that he needed skin grafting to cover the open wound on his right leg.

Unfortunately, Onwukwe , who is also expected to undergo surgery on his penis that was affected as well by the fire incident, said he has not been able to raise N800, 000 to fund the operations. He is begging members of the public to aid him financially for corrective surgery. Continue...

Narrating his ordeal, Onwukwe said the incident occurred on February 16, 2004 following an explosion from a kerosene lamp that was filled with adulterated product.

The young man, who said he specialises in laying tiles, disclosed that the incident happened in Aba, Abia State when he was residing with one of his aunties.

He added that from then on, he had been going through traumatic experiences and moving from hospitals to traditional-medical homes without real improvement.

Worst still, Onwukwe said he had for over 10 years found it difficult urinating with ease because the fire affected his penis.

He said, “When the incident happened in Aba, I was taken to a nearby hospital where I was treated for three months without improvement. My father came and took me to our village (Nono-Oboro in Abia State)for traditional cure. I stayed there for eight years, yet the wound did not heal.

“A friend of mine called Emmanuel came and took me to the National Hospital in Abuja, where after carrying out series of tests, they agreed on the conclusion that they will need to do skin grafting at the cost of N500,000.

“The doctors said I will undergo surgery to correct the veins in my penis.”

He said his father had given up on his situation because of lack of finance to carry out the surgeries.

“My father did his best but it appears he has given up because of lack of money. He would have given me if he had,” he said.

Onwukwe said he had approached his church for help but was told that he would get divine healing. He, however, showed appreciation to the medical unit of the new generation church that had at intervals dressed the wound and given him medications at no cost.

The young man said he was also worried that he had been on constant sedative to enable him to sleep for many years, adding that this might soon begin to have negative effect on him.

“I find it difficult to sleep at night. I have constantly been on sedative to make me sleep and I learnt it would have long-term effect,” Onwukwe lamented.

The pathetic story of the young man did not just stop with the pains he had been nursing for the past 10 years. Despite having the knowledge of fixing tiles in building, Onwukwe said lamented that he hardly gets good job because of the present situation and that had made it difficult fending for himself.

“I have not been able to fend for myself as a result of the injury. I can hardly go to work under this kind of condition. In fact, I have been squatting with some security guards since I came to Calabar two months ago,” he added.

Onwukwe appealed to good-spirited members of the public to come to his rescue.