Clem’s Funeral

October 16, 2020 by Catherine Onyemelukwe

Clem’s Funeral

Who would have believed that Clem would be buried without me! It seems impossible! But Sam said today that they managed the burial well. Chinaku also called more recently; he said everything was perfect!

Sam in the jet hired by Chinaku

About 40 guests were present. Emma (he’s called E-ma) was there – I saw him carrying a picture of Clem in Sam’s photos!

The body was buried in the grave dug by the umu nna, the men of the clan. They assembled the morning before around the site next to Clem’s father’s grave. Several men at a time were involved in digging; the others gathered around Sam.
Sam had to go to Ekwulobia, about 5 miles away, in the early morning to get the official documents for the service. Even though the men and women have been through the service many times before, they like to say, “Now it’s page . . . ” with everyone following.
They had the coffin open. I was surprised by that! Then they closed it and placed it in the grave.
Atu spoke well; so did Isaiah. The Bishop from Ekwulobia gave a short speech. How strange that this took place without my being there!

Nigeria’s Security Unit in Spotlight

I saw a video showing officers from Sars, or Special Anti Robbery Squad, dragging a man from a hotel. One of them is seen shooting the man. But Sam tells me that the Anti-Sars forces are now at work!

Until recently men wearing plain clothes and carrying heavy weapons were indistinguishable from abusers. “Several public figures and celebrities, including the Afrobeats stars Wizkid and Davido, have condemned the killings,” they say.

They are joining others who agree that Anti-Sars or End-Sars is now in full force.

I wonder if Sam is involved with the Afrobeats stars. I know he works with them.

Sam just told me today that Anti-Sars is now on the upbeat. He reports major changes that have caused the force to renegotiate their integration with the major media. So many changes lie ahead for Anti-Sars forces!

Polio is Ended

On the 24th of August 2020, the World Health Organisation (WHO) officially declared Nigeria and Africa polio-free.

Wow! This is big news! The polio-free declaration followed “rigorous protocols including the acceptance of Nigeria’s polio eradication documentation by the African Regional Commission for Certification of Poliomyelitis Eradication (ARCC).”

“What a proud moment for us and indeed all Nigerians, as we defended the country’s complete documentation towards being declared a Polio-free nation,” said Dr Faisal Shuaib. He is the Executive Director, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency. In the tweet he posted immediately after the meeting, he stated how overjoyed he was at the status.

Nigeria’s long road was really bumpy! The continued ride lasted over two decades. Several strategies were attempted. Routine immunization and mass vaccinations were part of the policy.

But recently the polio endgame strategy was narrowed down to “two key strategies:

  1. Supplementary Immunization Activities (SIAs) – The deployment of vaccination teams during planned immunization days in all communities to perform house-to-house visits and vaccinate all eligible (0-5 years) children. . .
  2. Poliovirus surveillance: Searching and reporting children (0 – 15 years) with Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) (the only symptom for poliovirus). AFP is the sudden onset of paralysis in children.”

You’ll be pleased to know that Rotary International, WHO, United Nations Children’s Fund and others were part of the strategy. On the Nigerian side the Ministry of Health and expert support from many partners were instrumental.

“Of importance is staunch commitment of the real heroes of the fight – the resilient community health workers and volunteers,” the communication says.


A local traditional healer, who doubles as AVADAR community volunteer in action searching for GPS coordinates as part of the App walkthrough: Photo credit: Nigeria Health Watch
Saidu Boka is a traditional healer in his own local government area of Dogo Nini. He was elated when the news reached him. His own reporting took place in 2016.
While keeping the system active and sensitive, AVADAR also allowed workers to demonstrate the positive effects. Now the AVADAR system has worked wonders. In August 2020 the final status was declared!

Author: Catherine Onyemelukwe

Author, blogger, speaker. Born in New York, grew up in mid west United States, lived in Nigeria for 24 years, back in U.S. since 1986. Advocate for racial justice.

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