The Delta Government on Wednesday dismissed reports in some quarters that the health condition of former Super Eagles captain Henry Nwosu, who is undergoing treatment at the Asaba Specialist Hospital, is deteriorating.
Addressing journalists shortly after visiting the football legend in hospital, the Chief Press Secretary to the state governor, Olisa Ifeajika, said contrary to rumours, Nwosu was responding positively to treatment.
As Ifeajika revealed, the health condition of the renowned footballer, contrary to speculations, has significantly improved from the time he was admitted to the health center.
According to him, the rumor that Henry Nwosu is not in good health that he is not eating or walking or talking again is baseless as there is not a shred of truth in it.
He said the state government had taken over Nwosu’s medical care and general well-being since he was transferred to the Specialist Hospital in Asaba.
“As soon as we learned that he was here at the Asaba Specialist Hospital three to four weeks ago, the Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, asked us to come and find out how true it was.
“I came with the health commissioner and we found out that it was true that he was in this medical facility and he told us that it was better than when he came.
“And immediately, on the orders of the governor, we ordered that every bill for his health be passed on to the state government. In fact, we asked that the family not pay the bills that were collected at the time.
“But they surprised us with the rumors that he was not doing well in the hospital; that he never ate again, and never walked or spoke again.
“Added to this rumor was that he was being removed from the hospital at the behest of the Lagos State Government, which was planning to take over his medical care.
“No one from the Lagos State Government has contacted us for this and it is not true that other interests discussed with the Delta State Government expressing their willingness to take the medical care of the former footballer.
“In a situation where we have everything, you can see the environment he’s in. We even moved him from the private room he was in to a VIP room.
“And, he (Nwosu) has said that he is much better now. As the Chief Medical Officer just said, Nwosu has had better care and is quite better than how he was when he was brought from Imo State.
“I spoke to him last night and he said he didn’t want to leave because the Governors have been so wonderful and the medical care has been wonderful.
“He said he didn’t want to leave even if he had his way. But, he is leaving today because of the insistence of his family, who wants to take him elsewhere,” the CPS said, noting that Nwosu’s case was beyond what the medical consultants and experts at the Asaba Specialist Hospital could handle.
However, he confirmed that the government can help him “if we know where they are going”.
The governor’s spokesman advised Nigerians not to play politics with the former footballer’s health, adding however that political attack on Governor Okowa would not diminish the innate compassion of humanity or distract from his focus on the Delta and Nigeria.
Also, the Chief Medical Director of Asaba Specialist Hospital, Peace lghosewe, said Nwosu had made a significant improvement in his health condition since he was brought to the medical facility about six weeks ago, adding that he was getting better every day.
“Since we found out who he was, because he chose to remain anonymous when they came, the state government has taken over his treatment and other things.
“The state government even took care of what he paid for before he knew who it was. The family said they want to take him out of the country and are making plans to do so,” Lghosew added.
Earlier in a brief chat with journalists, the former national team captain expressed his deep appreciation to the government and the people of Delta for their support since he was admitted to the hospital.
“I am grateful for the love shown to me by the governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa.I am sincerely grateful for the immense support he has given to my health and overall well-being.
“I want to say again that I have enjoyed the support I have received from the neighboring states of Ondo and Abia, and I am very grateful to them,” Nwosu said.
On her part, the younger sister of the football legend, Kate Kogolo, said her family members are deeply distressed by what the Delta State Government has done in the life of her ailing brother so far, adding that they have spent over N3 million. He moved from Imo State to Asaba.
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